The right to dissect the dead body of a human being exists in the cases authorized by positive enactment of the Legislature of this state.

Source: PenC 1877, § 351, subdiv 1; CL 1887, § 6552, subdiv 1; RPenC 1903, § 356, subdiv 1; RC 1919, § 3870 (1); SDC 1939, § 27.1304 (1).