Page:Early History of Medicine in Philadelphia - George W Norris.djvu/40

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The Early History of Medicine in Philadelphia.

advanced life, gives the following description of him, which is of interest, as showing the dress and appearance of a prominent medical man of the old school. "The doctor, who lived in Second Street near Arch, had retired from practice altogether, and was known to the public eye as an antiquated-looking old gentleman, usually habited in a broad-skirted dark coat, with long pocket flaps buttoned across his under dress, wearing, in strict conformity with the cut of his coat, a pair of Baron Steuben's military shaped boots, coming above the knees for riding; his hat flapped before, and cocked up smartly behind, covering a full-bottomed powdered wig, in the front of which might be seen an eagle-pointed nose, separating a pair of eagle black eyes, his lips exhibiting now and then a quick motion, as though at the moment he was endeavoring to extract the essence of a small quid. As thus described in habit and in person, he was to be seen almost daily, in fair weather, mounted on a short, fat, black switch-tailed horse, and riding for his amusement and exercise, in a brisk racking canter about the streets and suburbs of the city."

The same writer gives the following anecdote of him: "He was well known to most of the citizens, and one day, without

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