Why did resurrectionists operate in secrecy?
Frequently Asked Question about the extinct profession: Resurrectionist
Resurrectionists, or body snatchers, operated in secrecy to avoid legal repercussions and public outrage. The practice of stealing corpses for medical research was illegal and socially unacceptable. Secrecy allowed them to evade law enforcement and angry mobs, ensuring a steady supply of bodies for anatomists and medical schools, which were in high demand for cadavers during the 18th and 19th centuries.