In Early Modern Germany skinners and executioners belonged to the class of the so-called "dishonorable" professions. They formed a marginal group in the "honorable" society. The skinner's main function was to dispose of dead animals. The executioner was responsible for torture and the execution of a sentence. In the seventeenth century both officials spent much of their time practising medicine as regular members on the market of licensed medical practitioners. All truly licensed healers used techniques which were related to magic lore. In the eighteenth century doctors and qualified surgeons gained a monopoly and it became illegal for skinners and executioners to practise medicine. Those who did so were prosecuted. The Enlightenment declared their methods to be founded on superstitions.
在近代早期的德国，剥皮者和刽子手属于所谓“不光彩”职业的阶层。他们在“体面”社会中构成一个边缘群体。剥皮者的主要职责是处理死动物。刽子手负责行刑和执行判决。在17世纪，这两类官员都花费大量时间在有执照的开业医生市场上以正式成员身份行医。所有真正有执照的治疗者都使用与魔法知识相关的技术。在18世纪，医生和合格的外科医生获得了垄断地位，剥皮者和刽子手行医变得非法。那些这样做的人会被起诉。启蒙运动宣称他们的方法建立在迷信之上。
