The Early History of Medicine in Philadelphia.
It was not until the time of Shippen that midwifery was generally practised by physicians. Up to his day, except when unusual difficulty occurred, it was left principally in the hands of females. We learn, however, from Dr. Cadwalader, that so early as 1745, a Dr. Spencer was largely engaged in our city, who had returned from Europe "recommended by the famous Dr. Mead, and several other eminent gentlemen of the Faculty of London, as a most judicious and experienced physician and man-midwife;" and three years subsequently, Dr. Thompson also was practising in that branch. In March, 1762, Dr. Shippen delivered, in addition to his anatomical lectures, a special course upon midwifery, the first ever given in the country, the original proposal for which, as possessing much interest, I subjoin.
dict of the coroner's jury, handed over by authority to Dr. Shippen's anatomical theatre. And after that time the bodies of several criminals and suicides were similarly disposed of; and the following paragraph, taken from the Pennsylvania Gazette, shows that even the authorities of the neighboring colony of New Jersey countenanced, and did all in their power to favor, the study of anatomy: "Last Saturday a prisoner was executed at Gloucester, New Jersey, pursuant to his sentence, and his body was sent by order of the Chief Justice to Dr. Shippen's anatomical theatre for dissection."
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