The passage highlights the public perception of anatomists and dissection in Britain prior to the Anatomy Act of 1836. For centuries, only the bodies of executed criminals were permitted for scientific examination, associating anatomists with executioners in the eyes of society. This relationship fostered a fear and loathing around dissection, which was viewed as a dreadful punishment rather than a scientific study.

Mary Roach's work in "Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers" reflects on the stigma surrounding death and dissection, questioning the societal norms that led to such views. The quote emphasizes the grotesque image of a disheveled body being denied acceptance, illustrating the tension between the need for anatomical knowledge and the distaste for human remains.