After centuries of families suffering from the horrific actions of resurrectionists, the government finally passes The Anatomy Act in 1832. This would end the profession of resurrectionists by allowing anatomists to use donated bodies for their personal studies and lectures. While legally the problem seemed to be solved, the public was still shaken and anxieties surrounding the criminal practice were still prevalent. Stevenson exposes the anxieties surrounding the continuation of the practice despite the legal repercussions in "The Body Snatcher."