VPRS 17921 Record of Subjects Sent to School of Anatomy, University of Melbourne

Full description

This series consists of a volume which lists deceased patients from Mayday Hills Mental Hospital (VA 2842) whose bodies were transferred to the School of Anatomy, Melbourne University (VA 1045).

Under direction from the Chief Secretary, the Department of Mental Hygiene was permitted to supply the School of Medicine, Melbourne University, with not more than 12 bodies per annum to assist in the instruction of medical students in anatomy. A body of a deceased patient could be supplied if:

(a) it was suitable for anatomical dissection,
(b) no relative or friend could be found who was willing to arrange for a burial of the deceased,
(c) there was no objection by any relative,
(d) there appeared to the Medical Superintendent no reason why any special report should be made to the Coroner requiring a post-mortem examination.

The Director of Mental Hygiene was to be notified in writing in each case of the intention to send a body to the School of Medicine.

This series was used to record that notification. A proforma, in which the name of the deceased was written, was removed from these volumes and sent to the Inspector of Anatomy, Chief Secretary's Office. A receipt which remained in the volume noted the following:

- name
- age
- sex
- religious denomination
- last place of abode
- place of death
- date of death
- cause of death.