Chasing the Source of the En Masse Autopsy Method

The en masse evisceration method has a confused history. Called "Rokitansky" by some, and "Letulle" by others, the origin of this autopsy technique has been obscured through oral tradition and publication. This article endeavors to follow the material evidence back to a possible point of origin, correct errors, and illustrate the obstacles confronting historians who would attempt to discover the source of the en masse evisceration method. While it can now be confidently stated that this evisceration method did not originate with Letulle in France, and can be found in Scotland more than a century prior, the true source remains elusive. Avenues for possible future research become multiplicative after identifying the use of en masse autopsy in Edinburgh in the 18th century.