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The lingering fear of burkers amongst Travellers and horror...

Track Information

Original Track ID

SA1975.150

Original Tape ID

SA1975.150

Summary

The lingering fear of burkers amongst Travellers and horror of doctors.

Even when Betsy Whyte was a child, Travellers were afraid to call in doctors because of the history of burking. They were also repelled by the doctors' inhumanity in accepting murdered bodies for dissection. Fear of burkers was the reason why Travellers went around in bands. Women on their own would disguise their voices to sound like men. Betsy believes that burking still goes on, and she and Bryce point out how much research on fresh bodies must lie behind heart transplants.

Language

Scots

Genre

Information

Collection

SoSS

Source Type

Reel to reel

Audio Quality

Good