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Anatomy and the Invisible Hand

How did this period come to be known as 'the perfection of anatomy' and secure one of the few medical disciplines that would survive the upheaval that was about to engulf Europe?

A major new narrative history series exploring over 2,000 years of western medicine, written and presented by medical historian Andrew Cunningham.

10/30. Anatomy and the Invisible Hand

Anatomy teaching was big business in the 1700s. Anatomists such as the ambitious William Hunter hoped to profit by supplying anatomical teaching – but in doing so created a huge and unsavoury demand for fresh bodies for use by medical students.

Amid rivalry and huge public debates, every anatomist wanted to make some new discovery and build a reputation. So how did this period come to be known as 'the perfection of anatomy' and secure one of the few medical disciplines that would survive the political upheaval that was about to engulf Europe?

The readers are David Rintoul, Peter Capaldi, Jason Watkins and Scott Handy.

Available now

15 minutes

Last on

Fri 16 Feb 2007 15:45

Broadcast

  • Fri 16 Feb 2007 15:45