Chasing the Source of the En Masse Autopsy Method

Area of Science:

• Medical History
• Autopsy Techniques
• Surgical Procedures

Background:

• The en masse evisceration method is a historical autopsy technique.
• Its origins are debated, with attributions to "Rokitansky" and "Letulle."
• Historical records are obscured by oral tradition and publication inconsistencies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To trace the material evidence of the en masse evisceration method.
• To correct historical inaccuracies regarding its origin.
• To highlight challenges in discovering the source of autopsy techniques.

Main Methods:

• Historical document analysis
• Tracing publication and oral traditions
• Investigating autopsy records

Main Results:

• The en masse evisceration method did not originate with Letulle in France.
• The technique was documented in Scotland over a century before French attributions.
• The precise origin of the en masse evisceration method remains undetermined.

Conclusions:

• The historical attribution of the en masse evisceration method requires revision.
• 18th-century Edinburgh utilized en masse autopsy, opening new research avenues.
• Further investigation is necessary to definitively establish the method's origin.