The Early History of Medicine in Philadelphia.
General Hospital were much talked of previous to Dr. Morgan's appointment, and it had been his first care to look into and correct them.
At the breaking out of the war it must be remembered, along with some of liberal manners and education, and of the best abilities, a number of unlettered and very incompetent medical officers found their way into the army. Many of those first commissioned were never educated to the profession, and were to the last degree ignorant, factious, and turbulent, averse to all subordination and order, and, as is stated by the highest authority, that of Washington, "a disgrace to the profession, the army, and to society."[1]
- ↑ The regimental surgeons and mates, many of whom are designated by Washington, whose judgment and discretion will not be questioned by any, as "very great rascals," were dissatisfied also at having the officers of the General Hospital take equal rank with themselves. There is, adds Washington, a "constant bickering among them, which tends greatly to the injury of the sick, and will always subsist until the regimental surgeons are made to look to the Director-General of the Hospital as a superior." (Letter to the Pres. of Congress, Sept. 24th, 1776. Sparks's Life, vol. iv. p. 116.)
"They are aiming, I am persuaded, to break up the General Hospital and have in numberless instances, drawn for medicinal stores in the most profuse and extravagant manner for private purposes." (Ibid.)
(63)
