Journey Through Time 11. Scotland’s Most Notorious Serial Killers (Ep 1)
May 21, 2025
Discover the chilling tale of Burke and Hare, Scotland's infamous serial killers whose gruesome murders rocked 1820s Edinburgh. Explore the dark relationship between medical advancement and morality as societal demand for fresh corpses fueled their horrific schemes. Delve into the shocking practices of body snatching and cadaver trafficking, revealing the unsettling indifference towards human life. This captivating narrative examines the historical context that led to such depravity, exposing humanity's darker inclinations and the ethical dilemmas within a seemingly civilized society.
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Bodies Had No Legal Owners
- Burke and Hare supplied bodies for anatomy classes, exploiting a legal loophole where corpses had no owners, so selling them wasn't illegal.
- Their actions highlighted a grim supply-demand issue for fresh corpses in medical science of 1820s Edinburgh.
Medical Demand Clashed With Beliefs
- Edinburgh had a strong medical education culture reliant on human corpses for anatomy classes, causing demand for fresh bodies.
- Religious and cultural beliefs on bodily integrity for resurrection clashed with this need, intensifying societal anxiety.
Body Snatching Fuelled Scandal
- Grave robbing was widespread in early 19th century Edinburgh, with specialized 'resurrectionists' stealing fresh corpses for medical schools.
- The practice led to social outrage, with families defending graves using mort safes and guards until decomposition made bodies worthless to robbers.
