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from pyrites, and is found native on mice has been found near Hudson city, Shawangunk mountain in the state of in New-York. Sulphate of barytes is New-York. (Med. Repos. vol. ix. p. found in Sussex county, New-Jersey, 326.) According to the best of our re- (Med. Rep. vol. 7.) Sulphuret of Mocollection, adamantine spar has been lybdena, in Chester county, Pennsylvafound near Philadelphia. On the sub- nia; and in Westchester county of this ject of quartz, (p. 215) Dr. Arnell is state. Manganese, in Nova Scotia, and quoted as authority. This gentleman New-York, (Med. Rep. vol. xi.) Anmade a communication on the mine- timony, near Saugerties, (Med. Rep. ralogy of the country where he lived, vol. x.) Sulphate of magnesia, in a but by some unaccountable mistake he cave, in Green Briar county, Virginia, made the granulated quartz of Shawan- (Med. Repos. vol. ix.) Asphaltum, at gunk mountain, to be the arid dry Cape St. Antonio, in the island of Cuquartz of Kirwan, which is not the case. ba, (Med. Rep. vol. viii.) and sulphur, Being unacquainted with the subject, in Ontario county, New-York, (Med. he introduced an entire paragraph, Rep. vol. ix. p. 88.) as his own, from a communication in These are a few of the localities. the Med. Repos. (vol. ix. p. 326,) and which have occurred to our recollecby a wrong application perverted the tion, and many others not enumerated sense. In addition to the localities of flint, by Professor Cleaveland, may be found Professor C. may add, that it is found by consulting the Medical Repository of abundantly near Asbury, in Sussex New-York, of which 18 volumes have County, New-Jersey, and in scattering been published. nodules wherever limestone abounds in Upon the whole, we consider this that state, as examined by the writer work a valuable acquisition to the sciof this article, who visited that country, ence of mineralogy, and take pleasure with a particular view, by order of in recommending it to the attention of government, during the late war. He students and others interested in the has also seen hexagonal crystals of subject, and we hope the author will mica, in the granite found near New- be better rewarded than authors geneYork. No locality for pumice is given rally are, and be requited by somein the United States. A red speci- thing more than our thanks for his men, from the Missouri, was in the pos- labour. session of Dr. Mitchill, and black pu

WE

ART. 4.

K.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF DR. RUSH.

and Galen, to Sydenham and Boer haave, the learned Professor proceeds:

E have copied, by permission, from Dr. Hosack's Discourse, introductory to a course of Lectures on the Theo- 'But, gentlemen, while we thus rery and Practice of Physic, delivered in vere the great and the good of the old the College of Physicians and Surgeons world, let us do homage to merit in the of New-York, and published in the fourth new. While we acknowledge the bevolume of the Medical and Philosophi- nefits which the science of medicine bas cal Register, a work replete with use- received from the physicians of Europe, ful and entertaining matter, the follow- let us not be unmindful of the debt of ing interesting biographical sketch of gratitude we owe to a native of our own one of the most ingenious and erudite soil, who was no less an ornament to physicians, and one of the most amia- human nature, than his various exerble and accomplished men of his age. tions have been precious to his profesAfter paying a just tribute to the lu- sion, to science, and his country. minaries of other days, to Hippocrates,

"Your feelings, I trust, will be in uni

son with mine, while, in addition to the that virtue and religion for which he numerous offerings of public and pri- was so eminently distinguished. His vate respect, which have been paid to mother, as if influenced with a presentthe memory of Doctor Benjamin Rush, ment of the future destinies of her son, we devote a few moments to the con- resolved to give him the advantages of templation of the professional attain- the best education which our country ments, the public services, the moral then afforded:-For this purpose he and religious character, which make up was sent, at the early age of eight or the portrait of that distinguished philo- nine years, to the West Nottingham sopher and physician. Grammar School, and placed under the

Doctor Rush was born on the 24th care of his maternal uncle, the Rev. of December, 1745, on his father's Doctor Samuel Finley, an excellent estate, about twelve miles from the city scholar and an eminent teacher, and of Philadelphia. His ancestors follow- whose talents and learning afterwards ed William Penn from England to Penn- elevated him to the Presidency of the sylvania, in the year 1683. They College of Princeton. At this school chiefly belonged to the society of Qua- young Rush remained five years, for kers, and were all, as well as his pa- the purpose of acquiring a knowledge rents, distinguished for the industry, of the Greek and Latin languages, and the virtue, and the piety, characteris- other branches necessary to qualify him, tic of their sect. His grandfather, as preparatory for a collegiate course of James Rush, whose occupation was that study. But under the tuition and guidof a gunsmith, resided on his estate ance of Dr. Finley, he was not only near Philadelphia, and died in the year instructed in classical literature;-he 1727. His son John, the father of Dr. also acquired what was of no less imRush, inherited both his trade and his portance, and which characterized him farm, and was equally distinguished for through life,—a habit of study and obhis industry and ingenuity. He died servation, a reverence for the Christian while his son Benjamin was yet young, religion, and the habitual performance and left him to the care of an excellent of the duties it inculcates. For his acmother, who took an active interest in complished and pious instructor not his education and welfare. In a letter only regarded the temporal, but the which I had the pleasure to receive spiritual welfare of those committed to from Dr. Rush, a short time before his his care. death, and which was written upon his At the age of fourteen, after completreturn from a visit to the tomb of his ing his course of classical studies, he ancestors, he thus expresses the obliga- was removed to the college of Princetion he felt for the early impressions of ton, then under the superintendance of piety he had received from his parents: President Davies, one of the most elo"I have acquired and received no- quent preachers and learned divines our thing from the world which I prize so country has produced. highly as the religious principles I in- At college, our pupil not only perherited from them; and I possess nothing formed his duties with his usual attenthat I value so much as the innocence tion and success, but he became distinand purity of their characters."* guished for his talents, his uncommon

'But this was not the only source of progress in his studies, and especially for his eloquence in public speaking. *The letter here referred to was originally For this latter acquirement, he was addressed, by Dr. Rush, to the Hon. John doubtless indebted to the example set Adams, Esq. late President of the United before him by President Davies, whose States: from a copy of the same, sent to the author by Dr. Rush, several of the preceding talents as a pulpit orator were uniinteresting particulars have been taken. versally acknowledged, and were fre

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Dr. Redman, he embarked for Europe, and passed two years at Edinburgh, attending the lectures of those celebrated professors, Dr. Monro, Dr. Gregory, Dr. Cullen, and Dr. Black.

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'From Edinburgh Dr. Rush proceeded to London, where, in attendance upon the hospitals of that city, the lectures of its celebrated teachers, and the society of the learned, he made many accessions to the stock of know

'Dr. Rush received the degree of bachelor of arts in the autumn of 1760, at the early age of fifteen. The next Succeeding six years of his life were In the spring of 1768, after defenddevoted to the study of medicine, un- ing an inaugural dissertation "de cocder the direction of Dr. John Redman, tione ciborum in ventriculo," he reat that time an eminent practitioner in ceived the degree of doctor of medithe city of Philadelphia. Upon com- cine. In that exercise, which was mencing the study of medicine, the written with classical purity and elewritings of Hippocrates were among gance, it was the object of Dr. Rush to the very first works which attracted his illustrate, by experiment, an opinion attention; and, as an evidence of the that had been expressed by Dr. Cullen, early impressions they made upon his that the aliment, in a few hours after mind, and of the attachment he had being received into the stomach, underformed to them,, let it be remembered, goes the acetous fermentation. This that Dr. Rush, when a student of medi- fact he established by three different cine, translated the aphorisms of Hip- experiments, made upon himself; expocrates from the Greek into his ver- periments, which a mind less ardent nacular tongue, in the seventeenth year in the pursuit of truth, would readily of his age. From this early exercise have declined. he probably derived that talent of investigation, that spirit of inquiry, and those extensive views of the nature and causes of disease, which give value to his writings, and have added important benefits to the science of medicine. The same mode of acquiring knowledge he had already acquired. ledge which was recommended by Mr. Locke, and the very manner of his commonplace book, was also early adopted by Dr. Rush, and was daily continued to the last of his life. To his records, made in 1762, we are at this day indebted for many important facts illustrative of the yellow fever, which prevailed in, and desolated the city of Philadelphia, in that memorable year. Even in reading, it was the practice of Dr. Rush, and for which he was first indebted to his friend Dr. Franklin, to mark with a pen or pencil, any important fact, or any peculiar expression, remarkable either for its strength or its elegance. Like Gibbon, "he investigated with his pen always in his hand;" -believing, with an ancient classic, that to study without a pen is to dream"Studium sine calamo somnium."

Having with great fidelity completed his course of medical studies under VOL. I. NO. II.

In the spring of 1769, after visiting Paris, he returned to his native country, and immediately commenced the practice of physic in the city of Philadelphia, in which he soon became eminently distinguished.

Few men have entered the profession in any age or country with more numerous qualifications as a physician, than those possessed by Dr. Rush. His gentleness of manner, his sympathy with the distressed, his kindness to the poor, his varied and extensive erudition, his professional acquirements, and his faithful attention to the sick, all united in procuring for him the esteem, the respect, and the confidence of his fellow citizens, and thereby introducing him to an extensive and lucrative practice.

• It is observed, as an evidence of the diligence and fidelity with which Dr. Rush devoted himself to his medical studies, during the six years he had been 2 B

the pupil of Dr. Redman, that he ab- tice; and in 1805, upon the resignation sented himself from his business but of the learned and venerable Dr. Kuhn, two days in the whole of that period of he was chosen to the united professortime. I believe it may also be said, ships of the theory and practice of phythat from the time he commenced the sic and of clinical medicine, which he practice of medicine to the termination held the remainder of his life. To'the of his long and valuable life, except success with which these several branchwhen confined by sickness, or occupied es of medicine were taught by Dr. by business of a public nature, he never Rush, the popularity of bis lectures, absented himself from the city of Phi- the yearly increase of the number of ladelphia, nor omitted the performance his pupils, the unexampled growth of of his professional duties a single day. the medical school of Philadelphia, and It is also stated, that during the thirty the consequent diffusion of medical years of his attendance as a physician learning, bear ample testimony; for, to the Pennsylvania hospital, such was with all due respect to the distinguished his punctuality, his love of order, and talents with which the other professorhis sense of duty, that he not only ships of that university have hitherto made his daily visit to that institution, been, and still continue to be filled, it but was never absent ten minutes after will be admitted, that to the learning, the appointed hour of prescribing. the abilities, and the eloquence of Dr.

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In a few months after his establish- Rush, it owes much of that celebrity ment in Philadelphia, Dr. Rush was and elevation to which it has attained. elected a professor in the medical What Boerhaave was to the medical school which had been recently estab- school of Leyden, or Dr. Cullen to that lished by the laudable exertions of Dr. of Edinburgh, Dr Rush was to the uniShippen, Dr. Kuhn, Dr. Morgan, and versity of Pennsylvania. Dr. Bond. For this station his talents and education peculiarly qualified him. As in the case of Boerhaave, such too had been the attention bestowed by Dr. Rush upon every branch of medicine, that he was equally prepared to fill any department in which his services might be required.

But Dr. Rush did not confine his attention and pursuits either to the practice of medicine or to the duties of his professorship: his ardent mind did not permit him to be an inactive spectator of those important public events which occurred at an early period of his life.

The American revolution; the inThe professorships of anatomy, the dependence of his country; the estabtheory and practice, clinical medicine, lishment of a new constitution of goand the materia medica, being already vernment for the United States, and the occupied, he was placed in the chair of amelioration of the constitution of his chemistry, which he filled in such a own particular state, all successively inmanner as immediately to attract the terested his feelings, and induced him attention of all who heard him, not only to take an active concern in the scenes to the branch he taught, but to the that were passing. He held a seat in learning, the abilities, and eloquence, of the celebrated congress of 1776, as a the teacher. representative of the state of PennsylIn the year 1789 Dr. Rush was vania, and subscribed the ever memora elected the successor of Dr. Morgan to ble instrument of American independthe chair of theory and practice of phy- ence. In 1777 he was appointed phy sic. In 1791, upon an union being ef- sician general of the military hospital fected between the college of Philadel- for the middle department; and in the phia and the university of Pennsylva- year 1787 he received the additional nia, he was appointed to the prefessor- gratification and evidence of his counship of the institutes and clinical prac- try's confidence in his talents, and his

patriotism, by being chosen a member all his inquiries. He has well observ. of the state convention for the adoption ed, that medicine without principles, of the federal constitution.

is an humble art, and a degrading occupation; but directed by principles, the only sure guide to a safe and successful practice-it imparts the highest elevation to the intellectual and moral character of man.

These great events being accomplished, Dr. Rush gradually retired from political life, resolved to dedicate the remainder of his days to the practice of his profession, the performance of his collegiate duties, and the publication of But the high professional character those doctrines and principles in medi- and attainments of Dr. Rush, did not cine which he considered calculated to alone display themselves in his skill advance the interests of his favourite as a physician, or his abilities as a science, or to diminish the evils of hu- teacher; he was equally distinguished man life. In a letter which I received as a writer and an author. from him as early as the year 1794, he The present occasion does not allow expresses this determination, adding, "I me to recite to you even the numerous bave lately become a mere spectator of subjects of his medical publications;* all public events." And in a conversa- much less does it afford an opportunity tion on this subject during the two last to review the opinions they contain. years of his life, he expressed to me In the ensuing course of lectures these the high gratification which he enjoyed will severally fall under our attention, in his medical studies and pursuits, and as the various subjects to which they his regret that he had not at a much relate may present themselves. Perearlier period withdrawn his attention mit me, however, generally to observe, from all other subjects and bestowed it that the numerous facts and principles exclusively upon his profession.

Young gentlemen, let this declaration of that venerable character, who, like Hippocrates of old, well knew the extent of his art, and the comparative shortness of human life, impress your minds with the duties before you; let it teach you, too, the value of time, that it may not be occupied in those pursuits which are unconnected with science or your profession; and, especially, that it be not wasted in idle and unprofitable amusements; for, of the physician it is not enough to say,

"That there be liv'd, or here expir'd."

POPE.

'Such was the attachment of Dr. Rush to his profession, that speaking of his approaching dissolution, he remarks, When that time shall come, I shall relinquish many attractions to life, and among them a pleasure which to me has no equal in human pursuits; I mean that which I derived from studying, teaching, and practising medicine." But he loved it as a science: principles in medicine were the great objects of

which the writings of Dr. Rush contain, the doctrines they inculcate relative to the nature and causes of disease, and the improvements they have introduced into the practice of medicine, recommend them to your attentive perusal and study, while the perspicuity and elegance of the style in which they are written, give them an additional claim to your attention as among the finest models of composition. The same remarks are equally applicable to the epistolary style of Dr. Rush and that of his conversation; in both of which he eminently excelled.

'Mr. Fox declared in the British House of Commons, that he had learned more from Mr. Burke's conversation than from all the books he had ever read. It may also be observed of the conversation of Dr. Rush, that such

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