An introductory discourse, to a course of lectures on the theory and practice of physic : containing observations on the inductive system of prosecuting medical inquiries ; and a tribute to the memory of the late Dr. Benjamin Rush ; delivered at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, on the third of November, 1813 / by David Hosack.

  • Hosack, David, 1769-1835.
Date:
1813
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An introductory discourse, to a course of lectures on the theory and practice of physic : containing observations on the inductive system of prosecuting medical inquiries ; and a tribute to the memory of the late Dr. Benjamin Rush ; delivered at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, on the third of November, 1813 / by David Hosack. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    seventeenth year of his age. From this early exercise Irt probably derived that talent of investigation, that spirit ot inquiry, and those extensive views of the nature and causes of disease, which give value to his writings, and have added important benefits to the science of medicine. The same mode of acquiring knowledge which was recommended by Mr. Locke, and the very manner of his commonplace book was also early adopted by Dr. Rush, and was daily continued to the last of his life. To his records, made in 1762, we are at this day indebted for many important facts illustrative of the yellow fever, which prevailed in, and desolated the city of Philadelphia, in that memorable year. Even in reading, it was the practice of Dr. Rush, and for which he was first indebted to his friend Dr. Franklin, to mark with a pen or pencil, any important fact, or any peculiar expression, remark- able either for its strength or its elegance. Like Gibbon, he investigated with his pen always in his hand ;—believ- ing with an ancient classic, that to study without a pen i* to dream—Studium sine calamo somnium. Having with great fidelity completed his course of medical studies under Dr. Redman, he embarked for Europe, and passed two years at the University of Edinburgh, attending the lectures of those celebrated professors, Dr. Monro, Dr. Gregory, Dr. Cullen, and Dr. Black. . In the spring of 1768, after defending an inaugural disser tation de coctione ciborumin ventriculo, he received the degree of doctor of medicine. In that exercise which was written with classical purity and elegance, it was the object