Bond and Evans, under whose personal directions these instructions were conducted as early as 1770, and, in all probability, much earlier, as may be inferred from the phraseology of the minutes touching this subject.[1]
“In 1772 a proposition was made to the managers to extend the usefulness of the house by the admission of students, and an increase in the number of medical attendants. This proposition included an offer of gratuitous service, the institution being only at the expense of purchasing the medicines required for the sick” In March, 1774, an addition to the medical corps was effected by the election of Dr. Adam Kuhn, Dr. Benjamin Rush, Dr. Samuel Duffield (one of the first graduates of the College), Dr. Gerardus Clarkson, and Dr. Thomas Parke.
It must not be supposed that a uniform course of clinical instruction has been conducted in the Almshouse from the period alluded to. On the contrary, it appears from the records that the instruction was fitful and irregular, depending on a variety of circumstances, and much upon the opinions controlling the management with respect to its expediency, and hence we find that from time to time the admission of students was suspended.
When, after the evacuation of Philadelphia by the British, who had forcibly occupied the buildings of the Almshouse, affairs assumed a more settled condition, the desire for clinical instruction was rekindled. “In November, 1778, the subject was revived by the students present in the city. They presented a formal application to the physicians of the Almshouse for permission to witness the practice of the institution. Drs. Rogers and Leib waited on the Board of Managers in their behalf, and presented the importance of such a measure with much earnestness.” The application was at first refused, and then granted, but either from hostility on the part of the direction, or from other causes, it was of little avail.
In 1788, Dr. Samuel P. Griffitts and Dr. Caspar Wistar became physicians to the House, and, in 1789, Dr. William Shippen, Jr., was elected. At this time the proposition for
- ↑ It is to be understood that this clinic was in a public institution. The private clinic of Dr. Shippen has been referred to in a previous chapter.
