Funeral Service Practice Exam

Who were the Resurrectionists in the context of early funeral practices?

1. Medical professionals who cared for the dead

2. Men who stole bodies to sell to medical schools

3. Grave diggers hired for burial services

4. Religious leaders conducting funerals

The correct answer is: Men who stole bodies to sell to medical schools

The Resurrectionists were individuals who engaged in the practice of body snatching, specifically exhuming corpses from graves to sell to medical schools for the purpose of anatomical study. This practice emerged in the late 18th and early 19th centuries when there was a significant demand for human cadavers among medical students and professionals, yet legal access to bodies was limited. During this period, the laws regarding the acquisition of bodies for medical research were quite strict, and many medical schools struggled to obtain enough cadavers for educational purposes. As a result, Resurrectionists turned to illegal means, often working under the cover of night to steal bodies from graves. Their actions were both morally and legally contentious, as they violated the sanctity of burial sites and the concepts of respect for the deceased. Understanding this context highlights the challenges and controversies surrounding early funeral practices, particularly the tension between advancing medical knowledge and the societal values related to death and burial. The other options represent distinct roles within the sphere of funerals and medical care but do not capture the specific and notorious activities of the Resurrectionists.