The medical side of Benjamin Franklin / by William Pepper.

  • William Pepper
Date:
1911
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The medical side of Benjamin Franklin / by William Pepper. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    greatly esteem; and as I interest myself in what relates to him, I cannot but wish him the advantage of your conversation and instructions. I wish it also for the sake of my country, where he is to reside, and where I am persuaded he will be not a little useful. I am, with the greatest esteem and respect, Dear Sir, your most obedient and most humble servant. B. Franklin. Again in another letter Dr. Franklin introduced John Morgan1 to Lord Karnes2 in the following words: London, Nov., 1761. To Lord Karnes: . . . May I take the freedom of recommending the bearer, Mr. Morgan, to your Lordship’s protection. He purposes residing some time in Edinburgh, to improve himself in the study of physic, and I think will one day make a good figure in the profession, and be of some credit to the school he studies in, if great industry and application, joined with natural genius and sagacity, afford any foundation for the presage. He is a son of a friend and near neighbor of mine in Phila¬ delphia, so that I have known him from a child, and am confident the same excellent dispositions, good morals, and prudent behaviour, that 1 John Morgan, 1735-1789. Graduated in 1757 from the College of Philadelphia in the first class that received literary honours in that institution. Spent six years apprenticeship with Dr. John Redman. Served four years in the Army as Surgeon during the French war. Went to Europe in 1760 and worked under Dr. William Hunter. Graduated in 1763 from the University of Edinburgh. He then traveled through France and Italy. While abroad he. was made a Fellow of the Royal Society, member of the Belles Lettres Society of Rome, and a licentiate of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of London and Edinburgh. Returned to Philadelphia in 1765 and began the practice of medicine. He did away with the custom of Physicians dis¬ pensing their own drugs, bringing an apothecary with him from England. On May 3, 1765, he was elected Professor of the Theory and Practice of Physic in the College of Philadelphia thereby being entitled to be called the founder of Public Medical Instruction in the United States. He took an active part in the foundation of the American Philosophical Society. In 1772 he went to Jamaica and raised about two thousand pounds for the College. In 1775 he was appointed by Congress, Director General to the Military Hospitals, and Physician-in-Chief to the American Army and immediately joined Washington at Cambridge. In 1777 he was dismissed from the service, being blamed for the inefficiency of the Medical Department of the Army. In 1779 a committee appointed by Congress, however, thoroughly vindi¬ cated Dr. Morgan. He was physician to the Pennsylvania Hospital for many years. 2 Henry Home, Lord Karnes, 1696-1782. A celebrated Scottish judge and author.
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