Thomas Sewall
Encyclopedia
Dr. Thomas Sewall was an American doctor, writer and academic. He gained notoriety for being convicted of body snatching, and later went on to become a professor.
. In August 1812, he graduated from Harvard Medical School
and began practicing medicine. In 1819, he was arrested, charged, and found guilty of multiple counts of body snatching in Ipswich, Massachusetts
. Forced to leave the state, he moved to Washinston to re-establish his career. In 1825 he became a founding faculty member of the medical department at Columbian College (which later became George Washington University
), where he became professor of anatomy.
Sewell is remembered today for his eight graphic drawings of "alcohol diseased stomachs." Colored lithographs of these were made and widely distributed to promote teetotalism
and the temperance movement
. He was also an opponent of phrenology
, the pseudo-science of studying the size and shape of peoples' headshttp://www.countway.harvard.edu/rarebooks/exhibits/talking_heads/heads4.html.
Life
Sewall was born in Hallowell, MaineHallowell, Maine
Hallowell is a city in Kennebec County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,467 at the 2000 census.-History:The city is named for Benjamin Hallowell, a Boston merchant and one of the Kennebec Proprietors, holders of land originally granted to the Plymouth Company by the British monarchy in...
. In August 1812, he graduated from Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School is the graduate medical school of Harvard University. It is located in the Longwood Medical Area of the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts....
and began practicing medicine. In 1819, he was arrested, charged, and found guilty of multiple counts of body snatching in Ipswich, Massachusetts
Ipswich, Massachusetts
Ipswich is a coastal town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 12,987 at the 2000 census. Home to Willowdale State Forest and Sandy Point State Reservation, Ipswich includes the southern part of Plum Island...
. Forced to leave the state, he moved to Washinston to re-establish his career. In 1825 he became a founding faculty member of the medical department at Columbian College (which later became George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
), where he became professor of anatomy.
Sewell is remembered today for his eight graphic drawings of "alcohol diseased stomachs." Colored lithographs of these were made and widely distributed to promote teetotalism
Teetotalism
Teetotalism refers to either the practice of or the promotion of complete abstinence from alcoholic beverages. A person who practices teetotalism is called a teetotaler or is simply said to be teetotal...
and the temperance movement
Temperance movement
A temperance movement is a social movement urging reduced use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance movements may criticize excessive alcohol use, promote complete abstinence , or pressure the government to enact anti-alcohol legislation or complete prohibition of alcohol.-Temperance movement by...
. He was also an opponent of phrenology
Phrenology
Phrenology is a pseudoscience primarily focused on measurements of the human skull, based on the concept that the brain is the organ of the mind, and that certain brain areas have localized, specific functions or modules...
, the pseudo-science of studying the size and shape of peoples' headshttp://www.countway.harvard.edu/rarebooks/exhibits/talking_heads/heads4.html.
Sources
- Hanson, David J. Preventing Alcohol Abuse: Alcohol, Culture, and Control. Wetport, CT: Praeger, 1995.
- "A Most Daring and Sacrilegious Robbery" by Christopher Benedetto