CHAPTER VIII.

Death of Dr. Hutchinson-Sketch of his life-Election of Dr. Woodhouse to the professorship of chemistry-Resignation of Dr. Griffitts-Sketch of his life-Election of Dr. Barton to the chair of materia medica-Resignation of Dr. Kuhn and election of Dr. Rush to the chair of practiceCreation of the chair of surgery and election of Dr. Physick ProfessorFirst recognition of the ad eundem footing-Petition to the legislature with respect to irregular practitioners-Death of Dr. Shippen and election of Dr. Wistar-Death of Dr. Woodhouse and sketch of his lifeElection of Dr. Coxe to the chair of chemistry-Opinion of the faculty with respect to chemistry.

Not long after the coalition of the medical schools and the arrangement of the Faculties under the auspices of the University, a change occurred in the chair of chemistry. Its incumbent, Dr. Hutchinson, died in the autumn of 1793, of the epidemic yellow fever.

Dr. James Hutchinson was born in 1752, in Bucks County, Pa. He was educated at the College of Philadelphia, and graduated with the first honors of his class. He commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Cadwalader Evans, and attended the medical lectures of the college. In the year 1774, at the time he graduated Bachelor of Medicine, the trustees presented him with a gold medal for his superior knowledge in chemistry. On one side of this medal was represented a circle of laurel, with the inscription on the exergue, "Jacobus Hutchinson 1774." On the reverse a retort; on the exergue, "Naturæ artisque arcana retexi, Col. Phil."

Dr. Hutchinson subsequently went to London and continued his medical education under the protection and guid ance of Dr. Fothergill. It is stated by his biographer that "while pursuing his studies in Europe the disputes between

1 The tickets of admission to the lectures of the professors are in possession of his grandson, Dr. James Hutchinson. They are written on the back of "Playing Cards."

England and the American Colonies were approaching a crisis, which he saw must end in an open rupture. The prospect of this event hastened his return to his native country, the cause of which he warmly espoused. He returned home by way of France, and was entrusted with important despatches from Dr. Franklin, the American Minister there, to the Congress of the United States. When near the American coast, the ship in which he was a passenger was chased by a British armed vessel, and being anxious to save the despatches, he left the vessel in an open boat under a heavy fire from the enemy and landed safely. A short time after he left the vessel, she was captured by the enemy in sight, and he lost everything he had, including a fine medical library collected in England and France." Dr. Hutchinson served in the army during the Revolution, and was especially interested in public affairs. In a vindication of himself from the charge of receiving pay to which he was not entitled, published in the "Pennsylvania Journal,” Feb. 6, 1782, Dr. Hutchinson gave an account of the services rendered by him during the war. In this he states that he was in the employment of the United States for upwards of one year, and of the State of Pennsylvania from the latter part of 1778 till the beginning of February 1781. While in the Continental service, he had a commission as the Senior Surgeon to the Flying Hospital in the Middle Department, and with only six assistants inoculated 3496 men, while the army lay at Valley Forge. When the army moved across the North River, after the battle of Monmouth, having no duty to perform in his own department, and desirous of being useful to his country, he went to Rhode Island as a volunteer in the expedition against that place under General Sullivan. Soon afterwards he resigned his commission. On his return to Philadelphia he was appointed Surgeon to the State Navy. The emoluments derived for medical services may be learned from the following statement: "The pay annexed to this station (state navy) was three continental dollars and five rations per day. The duty consisted in taking care of the officers and men belonging to the gallies, and of the Militia who were occasionally at Fort Mifflin. This, though considerable, was performed without an assistant." The first pay he received from the State was in March, 1779, when it was equal to three shillings specie per

day, and thus gradually decreasing as continental money depreciated till it was reduced to about three pence or four pence. In Feb. 1781, there being no longer need of his services, he was discharged.'

In 1779, when the University superseded the College, Dr. Hutchinson was appointed one of the Trustees by the Legisla ture, and took great interest in its prosperity. In 1781 he refused the chair of practice, and in 1783 that of chemistry, influenced doubtless by the wish to see them filled by the previous incumbents of the College; and further, not to embarrass the organization of the medical faculty, in the existing unpleasant state of affairs occasioned by the abrogation of the College charter.

In 1789, when the restitution of the rights of the College was effected, he accepted the Chair of Materia Medica and Chemistry in the University; and on the union of the schools, in 1791, was chosen the Professor of Chemistry. The further arrangement of the Professorships concentrated the medical talents of the city. In this result he heartily cooperated.

At the time of his death he was one of the Secretaries of the Philosophical Society, and for fifteen years had been one of the Physicians of the Pennsylvania Hospital.

The Chair of Chemistry, left vacant by the death of Dr. Hutchinson, was conferred, January 7th, 1794, on Dr. John Carson, a member of the Board of Trustees, but this gentleman dying before entering upon the duties, the position was offered to Dr. Priestley, by whom it was declined.

The reasons assigned by Dr. Priestley for the non-acceptance of the appointment for which he was so eminently qualified, were that his views were directed to a country life as best calculated to permit indulgence in his tastes, and to aid him, by its seclusion, in his pursuits, and that this course would be of further advantage to himself and wife in consequence of a weak state of health. He therefore left the city, and settled at Northumberland, Pa.2

1 Pa. Journal, Feb. 6, 1782.

2 Memoirs of Dr. Joseph Priestley, to the year 1795, written by himself, with a continuation to the time of his decease, by his son Joseph Priestley. Northumberland, 1806. Vol. i. p. 163.

On July 7th, 1795, the vacant Chair of Chemistry was filled by the appointment of Dr. James Woodhouse, who in the following session commenced his course of lectures.

In 1796 Dr. Griffitts resigned the Chair of Materia Medica. Dr. Samuel Powell Griffitts was a prominent member of the Society of Friends. He was born in Philadelphia in 1759. Having been classically educated at the College of Philadelphia, he studied medicine with Dr. Kuhn. He attended lestures during the troubled times of the Revolution, and graduated Bachelor of Medicine in the University, July 4th, 1781. He then proceeded to Europe, but, on account of the war existing between Great Britain and the United Colonies, went first to France. After spending some time in attendance upon the lectures and hospitals of Paris, he went to Montpellier, where, in the winter of 1782-83, he attended a course of lectures. An attraction of this celebrated school at that time was the distinguished medical philosopher Barthez. The following year was spent in London and at the Medical School of Edinburgh, when, after an absence of three years, he established himself in his native city.

The first public enterprise in which he was engaged was the foundation of the Charity which has operated so beneficially in relieving the miseries of the poor, known as the "Philadelphia Dispensary." This institution went into operation in 1786; and, either as one of its Physicians or in the capacity of Secretary of the Board of Managers, his services were given to it till the close of his useful life.'

The Attending Physicians and Surgeons were Dr. Samuel Powell Griffitts, Dr. James Hall, Dr. William Clarkson, Dr. John Morris, Dr. John Carson, and Dr. Caspar Wistar.

The Consulting Physicians were Dr. Jones, Dr. Wm. Shippen, Jr., Dr. Adam Kuhn, and Dr. Benjamin Rush.

To promote the aims of this institution, various means were adopted. From the "Pennsylvania Gazette" of Feb. 8th, 1786, we obtain the following notice.

"We are happy to inform the Public that Dr. Moyes has kindly offered to deliver Lectures in the Hall of the University, upon the most interesting and useful parts of Chemistry and Natural Philosophy, after he has finished the present course, at half a dollar a ticket for each lecture, for the benefit of this charity."

The Dispensary was opened in STRAWBERRY ALLEY.

Dr. Griffitts' connection with the College and University continued during six sessions, and throughout this period his lectures are said to have "evinced great industry in the acquisition of useful materials, method and perspicuity in their arrangement, and zeal for the advancement of his class in solid information. But the situation of a public lecturer was not altogether congenial to his feelings, which were most gratified by an active discharge of the less conspicuous duties of life. Perhaps, too, the disinclination which he always manifested to hold any place of emolument may have exercised some influence in producing his resignation of a chair which was every year becoming more profitable, and even at that period conferred one of the highest honors within the reach of the profession."

In consequence of his early studies in connection with Materia Medica and Pharmacy, Dr. Griffitts was deeply interested in the formation of a National Pharmacopoeia. In June, 1788, he was placed on a Committee of the College of Physicians to form a Pharmacopoeia for the use of the College, but this undertaking was permitted to slumber until 1820, when the College united with other societies for the formation of our present national work. Dr. Griffitts served upon the Committee then appointed, and for this duty his former experience well qualified him. He died in 1826.

Upon the resignation of Dr. Griffitts, Dr. Benjamin Smith Barton succeeded to the Professorship of Materia Medica, still retaining that of Natural History.

After twenty nine years of active service in the School of Medicine, Dr. Kuhn retired from the Chair of Practice in

1 Memoir of Dr. Samuel Powell Griffitts, by Governeur Emerson, M. D. North American Medical and Surgical Journal, vol. iii. p. 151, 1827.

2 In 1782 a small collection of receipts was published by Dr. William Brown, more particularly intended for the use of the Army. In 1788 the following action was taken by the College of Physicians: "On Motion, ordered that a Committee of eight, viz., Drs. Redman, Jones, Kuhn, Shippen, Rush, Griffitts, Wistar, and Hutchinson, be appointed to form a Pharmacopoeia for the use of the College." The U. S. Pharmacopeia was first issued in 1820. In the Life of Dr. Thos. T. Hewson by Dr. Franklin Bache, and in the Life of Dr. Bache by Dr. G. B. Wood, will be found an interesting account of this work.