CHAPTER XXVI.

BENJAMIN RUSH.

"To the physician of the soul, and these,

Turn the distressed for safety and for peace."— Crabbe.

BENJAMIN RUSH, a celebrated Doctor of Medicine at his time, was a native of Philadelphia County, having been born in the little town of Byberry, December 24th, 1745. He was grandson to an officer of some prominence bearing that name in Cromwell's army, who came to this country soon after the death of the Protector, where he acquired a nice little property and a good reputation. Unfortunately, however, for the subject of this sketch, his father was attacked with a severe indisposition, which baffled the skill of the most erudite medical professors, and died when Benjamin was only about six years of age. This afflictive dispensation placed him and a brother under the maternal guardianship of a fond and doting mother, who exhibited great anxiety to give Benjamin a classical education; but her income and means would not permit her to do so at the time. Subsequently, she sold her little homestead, removed into Philadelphia, and with the money then in her possession, she commenced a sort of commercial business which proved very successful. By this turn of fortune she was enabled to consummate her wishes in giving a

liberal education to her eldest son. When he was only nine years of age, he was placed under the tutilage of Dr. Findlay, who was principal of an Academy at Nottingham, Maryland. Here he ap plied himself with great earnestness to his studies, and having completed the preliminary courses, in 1759 he entered Princeton College, where, at the age of sixteen, he took his degree.

At an early day young Rush evinced a strong preference for the study and profession of the law, but by the persuasions of his mother, and many warm friends, he consented to the practice of medicine. In due time he placed himself under the tuition of Dr. Redman, of Philadelphia; and after remaining with him for a year or two, in 1766 he went to England for the purpose of professional improvement. He remained there two years, receiving vast benefits from attending lectures at the best hospitals and medical institutions. in London. From London he went to Paris in the summer of 1768, where he obtained additional information and insight into the science of medicine. His stay in Paris, however, was short, for in the autumn of the same year he returned to America, with an honorable diploma conferred on him at Edinburg, and the title of "Doctor of Medicine."

Soon after his return to Philadelphia he commenced the practice of his profession. His success was the general topic of conversation; and so rapidly did his reputation increase, that before he had completed one year, the most distinguished physicians of the city invited him to consultations with them. There was a calm suavity about him, a polished and dignified manner, which, together with his superior intellect,

kind deportment to the sick, and unwearied attention to the calls of the poor, created for him a popularity that few practitioners enjoyed. A man possessing these characteristics, of course, could not fail to make for himself an extensive and lucrative practice. Dr. Rush, besides attending to the calls of the sick, and other duties incident to his profession, took great delight in imparting to others necessary information respecting the medical profession; and for this purpose, instituted lectures, which were attended by students from all parts of the country, after the Revolutionary war had closed. They came even from the Old World; and in 1812, the year preceding his death, he had four hundred and thirty pupils who attended his lectures. For nine years previous to his demise, the number of his private pupils exceeded fifty annually. It is computed that he instructed during his life-time more than two thousand pupils. This fact, alone, is sufficient to impress the public mind with an idea of his superiority in the medical profession. No one stood higher than he in Philadelphia among men of his class-no one was more successful-no one was more highly esteemed; and none could command greater respect. In his profession he was a pattern for emulation.

On his return to his native country, he found considerable feeling existing antagonistic to the oppressive measures pursued by Great Britain toward the Colonies, and it did not take him long to decide which side of the discussion to espouse. Consequently, his pen, as well as his personal exertions, contributed no small share in arousing the people to action, and of intensifying the feelings of the patriots for Freedom

and Independence. Although urgently solicited to take a seat in the Congress of 1775, he declined the honor. But the next year, when some of the Pennsylvania delegates proved traitors to their constituents, and refused to vote for Independence, he was elected to fill one of the seats made vacant by their withdrawal, and he accepted it. When the Declaration of Independence was adopted, Dr. Rush was not a member, but he was present, and signed it on the second day of August following. He was appointed to the office of Physician-General of the Military Hospitals of the Middle Department, by Congress, in which his services were found of great utility. After that appointment he did not serve again in Congress. He took very little interest in political measures, and with the exception of being a member of the Convention that adopted the Federal Constitution, he did not actively participate in any public duties. In 1778 he was appointed President of the Mint, which position he held fourteen years. Although, as a statesman, the services of Dr. Rush were eminently useful, still his virtues excelled in the medical profession; and as a practitioner and medical writer, he is more popularly known. In 1779 he was appointed Professor of Chemistry in the Medical College of Philadelphia-in 1789 he was made Professor of the Theory and Practice of Medicine; and at that time he also held the Professorship of the Institutes of Medicine and of Chemical Science, in the Medical College of Pennsylvania. In 1796 he was appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Dr. Kuhn, in the Professorship of the Practice of Medicine.

These three Professorships he held during his life, and discharged their duties with honor.

The citizens of Philadelphia well remember that, in 1793, that dreadful scourge of the human race— the yellow fever-swept like the wings of the angel of death, over that fair city, carrying hundreds and thousands of its inhabitants to the grave. So direful was its progress, and so alarming its effects, that a universal panic ensued. Physicians of long standing and high reputations deserted their patients, and left them to grapple with the fell destroyer as best they might. But then it was that the humanity and philanthropy of Dr. Rush were made manifest. He resolved to remain, and prevailed upon a few of his pupils to follow his example. They did so. He himself was attacked by the disease, and some of his pupils died; but while he could get from his bed, he was vigilant in attending to the sick and dying.* This self-sacrificing devotion to the interests and welfare of the community, placed the citizens of Philadelphia under lasting gratitude to him.

There are many instances and institutions which bear the impress of Dr. Rush's superior mind and untiring energies. In 1786 he formed the Philadelphia Dispensary, and he was one of the principal founders of Dickinson College, at Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He

*He appealed to his pupils to remain thus: "As for myself, I am determined to remain. I may fall a victim to the epidemic, and so may you, gentlemen. But I prefer, since I am placed here by Divine Providence, to fall in performing my duty, if such must be the consequence of my staying upon the ground, than to secure my life by fleeing from the post of duty allotted in the Providence of God. I will remain, if I remain alone."