Before another Commencement occurred, a young physician who had well earned his degree in a foreign school was crossing the ocean on his way home; and having heard of the plans of the Trustees in devising honors for their medical matriculants, formed hopes of taking part in the medical work of the College; and the name of BENJAMIN RUSH is now to be added to this notable faculty. Young Rush, then in the twenty-fourth year of his age, had just returned from completing his medical studies abroad. Born in Philadelphia County on Christmas Eve, I745 he graduated at Princeton College in the class of 1760, and shortly after began the study of medicine in Philadelphia under the direction of Dr. Redman. In 1766 he went to Edinburgh to further pursue his studies, where he secured his Degree; and passed the earlier months of 1769 in London in attendance on its hospitals and medical lectures. Here he secured the friendship of Dr. Fothergill, and through him obtained the countenance of the Proprietary; and contemplating some practical plans for his work at home and possibly looking to a connection with the College of which his learned preceptor was a Trustee, and to the advantages of the Hospital with which Dr. Redman was also closely associated, he submitted his plans to Thomas Penn, who wrote the Trustees under date of 9 May, 1769: T
Dr Rush having been recommended to me by Dr Fothergill as a very expert Chymist, and the Doctor having further recommended to me to send a Chymical Apparatus to the College as a Thing that will be of great Use, particularly in the Tryal of Ores, I send you such as Dr Fothergill thought necessary, under the care of Dr Rush, which I desire your acceptance of. I recommend Dr Rush to your Notice, and heartily wishing Success to the College, remain with great Regard, Gentlemen, Your very affectionate Friend, Tho. Penn
1 Dr. Carson quotes a letter from Dr. Rush written from London in October, 1768, to Dr. Morgan which would imply some certainty on his part of being elected a Professor, " I am much obliged to you for continuing to read Lectures upon Chemistry. I hope to be in Philadelphia in May or June next, so that I shall relieve you from the task the ensuing winter. Is it necessary for me to deliver publickly an Inaugural Oration? Something must be said in favor of the advantages of Chemistry to Medicine, and its usefulness to medical philosophy, as the people of our country in general are strangers to the nature and objects of the science." History &c. p. 73.
