Page:Early History of Medicine in Philadelphia - George W Norris.djvu/91

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The Early History of Medicine in Philadelphia.

The Medical Committee of that period was composed, among others, of Gerry, and Samuel and John Adams; men among the most active of the body on other committees, and time and opportunity was really wanting to them to examine into such details as would be necessary for a proper judgment.[1] Thus Morgan, though believed by all who knew him, as well as by popular opinion, and the Commander-in-Chief, to have discharged his high trust with integrity, energy, and marked ability, was yet doomed to be put aside for some more convenient season.[2]

  1. "The whole Congress is taken up almost in different committees, from seven to ten in the morning. From ten to four, or sometimes five, we are in Congress, and from six to ten in committees again. I don't mention this to make you think me a man of importance, because it is not I alone, but the whole Congress is thus employed." (Letter of John Adams to his wife, vol. i. p. 77, 1841.)

    During Mr. Adams's term of service in Congress, he was a member of ninety, and chairman of twenty-five committees.

  2. Washington, in his letter to Morgan of January 6th, 1779, gives the most ample testimony of his having discharged his duty with diligence and fidelity, saying, "No fault, I believe, was or ever could be found with the economy of the hospitals during your directorship and, moreover, two of the prominent actors in the Medical Department of this period, who have left records on this matter, are of this opinion. One of these, the venerable Dr. Thacher, asserts that the clamours raised against Morgan were unjust, and that no opportunity was

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