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Elijah Griffiths notes on the lectures of Benjamin Rush

 Item
Identifier: 10a 106

Scope and Contents

Volume 2 (97 leaves) of a set of lecture notes from Benjamin Rush’s lectures delivered at the University of Pennsylvania. Includes conclusion of lectures on physiology (digestion, nutrition and reproduction), pathology (causes of disease), and therapeutics.

Dates

  • 1797 - 1798

Creator

Biographical / Historical

Elijah Griffiths was born on 18 September 1769 in Chester County, Pa. He received his M.D. from the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania in 1804. His thesis topic was ophthalmia. A medical practitioner in Philadelphia until 1834, Griffiths also served on the staff of Philadelphia Hospital and was Physician to the Board of Health (1809-1816). He was elected a Fellow of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia on 3 April 1821. On 4 July 1847 Griffiths died in Salem County, NJ.

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.

Extent

1 volume

Language of Materials

English

Custodial History

Source unknown.
Title
Elijah Griffiths notes on the lectures of Benjamin Rush
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia Repository

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