Holmesburg Prison in Philadelphia has been a site of controversial dermatological, pharmaceutical, and biochemical weapons research projects involving testing on inmates. One inmate described exposure to microwave radiation, sulfuric and carbonic acid, solutions which corroded and reduced forearm epidermis to a leather-like substance. In another experiment, fragments of cadavers were stitched into the backs of inmates to determine if the fragments could grow back into functional organs.

FREE PDF - Book Description

At a time of increased interest and renewed shock over the Tuskegee syphilis experiments,

Acres of Skin sheds light on yet another dark episode of American medical history.

In this disturbing expose, Allen M. Hornblum tells the story of Philadelphia's Holmesburg Prison.