Human Osteological Services - human osteology, zooarchaeology, forensic consultancy, forensic archaeology, facial reconstruction

Excavations carried out as part of development at the former Worcester Royal Infirmary have revealed collections of human remains deposited in pits around the grounds of the late Georgian and early Victorian hospital. The assemblage is thought to be one of only 8 similar collections and analysis of the remains, carried out by Gaynor Western and Tania Kausmally of Ossafreelance, has led to the discovery of much evidence of surgical intervention for amputation as well as cut marks that were most likely made as part of the dissection process.

Amputation was a necessary method of surgery during this period to prevent infections and malignant growths spreading from limbs to the body. Most would have been carried out prior to the advent of anaesthesia, making the operation a harrowing ordeal for any patient and a last resort. Nonetheless, due to the skill and speed of the surgeons at the Worcester Royal Infirmary, many patients survived. The removed parts of the diseased limb were either retained for use as a teaching specimen or were discarded into rubbish pits. Most of the fragments of bone excavated from the grounds represent amputated limbs and many show evidence of the advanced stages of infectious diseases.

The hospital also played a role in the education of new doctors and the study of anatomy was a required element of its teaching practice. This required students to dissect human cadavers. Prior to the Anatomy Act of 1832, only the bodies of executed murderers could be assigned to the Infirmary by the Coroner and so there was a great shortage of cadavers available for dissection at this time. Under this pressure, Charles Hastings, senior physician at the hospital, ardently pursued medical reform and eventually the Anatomy Act was passed, allowing teaching establishments to acquire the bodies of unclaimed paupers, prisoners, etc.

More about the history of the Worcester Royal Infirmary can be found here, courtesy of Catrione Smellie of the George Marshall Medical Museum and the University of Worcester: ...>