Catalogue description Home Office: Anatomy Entry Books

The Anatomy Act 1832 made the Home Secretary responsible for the regulation of schools of anatomy, the granting of licenses to practice anatomy and the appointment of inspectors of anatomy. In 1832 a single inspector was appointed to carry out these duties with the aid of assistants, in England, Wales and Scotland. There was a separate establishment for Ireland under the Chief Secretary for Ireland. In 1842 the single inspector was replaced by two joint inspectors for England and Wales and a separate inspector for Scotland with an office in Edinburgh. The joint inspectors for England and Wales had special responsibility for the metropolitan area and the provinces respectively, and their office in London was known as the Anatomy Office. Supervision of licensing and of the inspectorate was carried out by the Domestic Department and then Miscellaneous (E) Division of the Home Office until 1920, when these functions were transferred to the Ministry of Health.