The Early History of Medicine in Philadelphia.
its President in 1790. It continued in operation till November, 1792, and reports of cases read before it are in print.
From the correspondence of Mr. Thomas Penn with the Secretary of the Province, it appears that as early as the year 1767 Dr. John Morgan was actively engaged in an effort to establish "a College of Physicians;" but in this he was frustrated by the Proprietaries refusing to grant a charter for the purpose, looking upon it as "too early for such an establishment," and the unsuccessful effort thus made prevented any scheme of the sort being carried into execution till after the war of Independence.[1] Towards the close of the year 1786, the physicians of Philadelphia, influenced by the conviction of the many advantages that have arisen in every country from literary institutions, associated themselves under the name and title of "The College of Physicians of Philadelphia." The first stated meeting of this body was held on the 2d of January, 1787, and two years afterwards it secured its
- ↑ Mr. Penn's letter is as follows (extract of a letter from Thos. Penn to Richard Peter, dated Feb. 27th, 1767): "I have had a letter from Dr. Morgan, and proposals for erecting a College of Physicians. I think it very early for such an establishment, and wish the faculty would not press for such a thing. I shall confer with Dr. Fothergill upon it."
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