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;-be 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 obbis 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 bis 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.

66

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 eloI 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 inherited from them; and I possess nothing that I value so much as the innocence and purity of their characters."*

At college, our pupil not only performed his duties with his usual attention and success, but he became distinguished 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

quently the theme of his pupil's admiration.

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.

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 knowledge he had already acquired.

'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 cogder 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 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 in debted 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, ful attention to the sick, all united in 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. III.

In the spring of 1769, after visiting Paris, be returned to his native country, and immediately commenced the practice of physic in the city of Phila~ delphia, 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 faith

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 his 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. '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 But Dr. Rush did not confine his atand education peculiarly qualified him. tention and pursuits either to the pracAs in the case of Boerhaave, such too tice of medicine or to the duties of his had been the attention bestowed by Dr. professorship: his ardent mind did not Rush upon every branch of medicine, permit him to be an inactive spectator that he was equally prepared to fill any of those important public events which department in which his services might occurred at an early period of his life. be required.

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 memoraelected 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 observof 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.

But the high professional character and attainments of Dr. Rush, did not alone display themselves in his skill as a physician, or his abilities as a teacher; he was equally distinguished as a writer and an author.

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 those doctrines and principles in medicine which he considered calculated to advance the interests of his favourite science, or to diminish the evils of human life. In a letter which I received from him as early as the year 1794, be The present occasion does not allow expresses this determination, adding, "I me to recite to you even the numerous have lately becom 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 earlier period withdrawn his attention from all other subjects and bestowed it exclusively upon his profession.

relate may present themselves. Permit me, however, generally to observe, that the numerous facts and principles which the writings of Dr. Rush contain, Young gentlemen, let this declara- the doctrines they inculcate relative tion of that venerable character, who, to the nature and causes of disease, and like Hippocrates of old, well knew the the improvements they have introduced extent of his art, and the comparative into the practice of medicine, recom shortness of human life, impress your mend them to your attentive perusal minds with the duties before you; let and study, while the perspicuity and it teach you, too, the value of time, elegance of the style in which they that it may not be occupied in those are written, give them an additional pursuits which are unconnected with claim to your attention as among the science or your profession; and, espe- finest models of composition. cially, that it be not wasted in idle and same remarks are equally applicable to unprofitable amusements; for, of the the epistolary style of Dr. Rush and physician it is not enough to say, that of his conversation; in both of which he eminently excelled.

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

POPE.

The

read. It may also be observed of the conversation of Dr. Rush, that such

Mr. Fox declared in the British 'Such was the attachment of Dr. Rush House of Commons, that he had learned to his profession, that speaking of his more from Mr. Burke's conversation approaching dissolution, he remarks, than from all the books he had ever "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 ty of Charleston, by the Hon. David Rammedicine were the great objects of

*For an ample and minute account of the writings of Dr. Rush, the reader is particularly referred to the excellent and instructive

discourse delivered before the Medical Socie

say, M. D.

were the riches of his mind; such was south."* He knew not that "letharthe active employment of all its facul- gy of indolence" that follows the inorties; so constant was his habit of giving dinate gratifications of the table. His expression to his thoughts in an exten- ciesto did not consist in indulgence upon sive correspondence, in the preparation the bed or in the armed chair, to reof his public discourses, and in his cover those powers which had been paradaily intercourse with the world, that lyzed or suspended by an excessive meal, few persons ever left his society with- or the intemperate use of vinous or spiout receiving instruction, and expres- rituous drinks. sing their astonishment at the perpetual stream of eloquence in which his thoughts were communicated.

"It has frequently been the subject of surprise, that amidst the numerous avo cations of Dr. Rush, as a practitioner and a teacher of medicine, that he found leisure for the composition and the publication of the numerous medical and literary works which have been the production of his pen.

Dr. Johuson, during his tour to the Hebrides, when fatigued by his journey, retired to his chamber and wrote his celebrated Latin ode addressed to Mrs. Thrale.t Dr. Rush, in like manner, after the fatigues of professional duty, refreshed his mind by the perusal of some favourite poet, some work of taste, some volume of travels, biography, or history. These were the pillows on which he sought repose.

But the virtues of the heart, like the faculties of his mind, were also in continual exercise for the benefit of his fellow men; while the numerous humane, charitable, and religious associations, which do honour to the city of Philadelphia, bear testimony to the philan

Although Dr. Rush possessed by nature an active and discriminating mind, in which were blended great quickness of perception, and a retentive memory; although he enjoyed the benefits of an excellent preliminary and professional education, it was only habits of uncommon industry, punctuality in the thropy and piety which animated the performance of all his engagements, the strictest temperance and regularity in his mode of life, that enabled him to accomplish so much in his profession, and to contribute so largely to the medical literature of his country. Dr. Rush, like most men who have extended the boundaries of any department of human knowledge; who have contributed to the improvement of any art or science, was in habits of early rising, by which he always secured what Gibbon has well denominated "the sacred portion of the day."

The great moralist* justly observes, that "to temperance every day is bright, and every hour is propitious to diligence." The extreme temperance of Dr. Rush, in like manner, enabled him to keep his mind in continual employment, thereby "setting at defiance the morning mist and evening damp-the blasts of the east, and the clouds of the * Dr. Johnson.

bosom of their departed benefactor, let it also be remembered, that, as with the good Samaritan, the poor were the objects of his peculiar care; and that in the latter, and more prosperous years of his life, one seventh of his income was expended upon the children of affliction and want. Dr. Boerhaave said of the poor, that they were his best patients, because God was their paymaster.

Let it also be recorded, that the last act of Dr. Rush was an act of charity, and that the last expression which fell from his lips was an injunction to his son, "Be indulgent to the poor.'

"Vale egregium academiæ decus! tuum nomen mecum semper durabit; et laudes et honores tui in æternum manebunt."

* Boswell, vol. I. p. 260.
t Boswell.

These words were addressed by Dr. Rush, to his particular friend and preceptor, Dr. Cullen.