Call no.
10a/453
Acc. 271473-4
(Hirsch
904)
14 Nov. 1974
Archer, John, 1777-1830.
[Notes from Rush’s lectures on institutes and practice of
medicine, 1796-1797 / taken
by John Archer]
2 v.
Biography
John Archer was born on 9 October 1777 in Harford Co., Md. to the prominent
Maryland physician, John Archer and his wife, Catherine (Harris). Archer studied
medicine under his father at his home, the “Medical Hall,” and received his
M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1798. He returned to Maryland to set
up private practice. During the War of 1812 he served as a surgeon in the
Maryland militia. He died in Baltimore, Md. on 21 May 1830.
Benjamin Rush, Philadelphia physician, was born on 24 Dec. 1745 o.s. in Byberry
Township. He married Julia Stockton in 1776; they had thirteen children. Rush
died on 19 Apr. 1813. Rush received his B.A. from Princeton College in 1760,
then served a six-year apprenticeship with John Redman. He was one of the first
to attend William Shippen’s anatomy lectures. In 1768, he received his M.D.
from the University of Edinburgh. In 1769, Rush became Professor of Chemistry at
the College of Philadelphia; in 1789 he became Professor of Theory and Practice
of Medicine. When the College formed the University of Pennsylvania in 1791,
Rush became Professor of the Institutes of Medicine and Clinical Medicine. He
also taught students privately. In 1786, he helped to establish the Philadelphia
Dispensary and was a physician there until his death. Rush also was a member of
the Provincial Congress in 1776, a signer of the Declaration of Independence,
and in 1777, became Surgeon-General of the Continental Army. In 1799, he became
Treasurer of the U.S. Mint. Rush was known for advocating bleeding and purging
to treat yellow fever. From 1787 to 1793 he was a Fellow of the College of
Physicians of Philadelphia.
Scope and Contents
Volume 4 and 5 of a set of notes taken by John Archer on the lectures of
Benjamin Rush, delivered at the University of Pennsylvania from 1796-1797.
Topics covered include pathology, the causes of disease, therapeutics, and the
practice of medicine, particularly in the case of fevers.
Provenance
Given to the College of Physicians in April 1958 by an anonymous donor.
1796-1797.
2 v.
08/21/2000
lg
Call no.
10a/453
Acc. 271473-4
(Hirsch
904)
14 Nov. 1974
Archer, John, 1777-1830.
[Notes from Rush’s lectures on institutes and practice of
medicine, 1796-1797 / taken
by John Archer]
2 v.
Vol.
4
Pages 170-225, entitled pathology chapter 1, of disease and origin of moral and
natural evil.
Includes lectures 31-45, dated 21 Dec. 1796 to 10 Jan. 1797. Main topic is
causes of disease
(contagions, diet, poisons, foreign substances, improper exercise of the
faculties of the mind,
different employment, false medicine and quackery, sympathy, accidents, and
predisposing causes).
5
Pages 226-278, includes conclusion of chapter 1 (lectures 45-47, dated 10-12
Jan. 1797); chapter 2,
of the signs of diseases (lectures 47-48, dated 12-13 Jan. 1797); all of
therapeutics (lectures 49-51,
dated 16-18 Jan. 1797); and the beginning of the practice of physick or clinical
lectures, (lectures
52-60, dated 19-31 Jan. 1797). Main topic covered in clinical lectures is
fevers.
1796-1797.
2 v.
08/21/2000
lg