Page:A History of the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania.djvu/52

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56
MEDICAL DEPARTMENT OF

am pleased, however, to hear that you, gentlemen, on being applied to by Dr. Morgan, have appointed that gentleman Professor of Medicine. A Professorship of Anatomy and Surgery will be accepted by, gent.,


“Your most obedient and very humble servant,

WILLIAM SHIPPEN, Jr.

“Philadelphia, 17th September, 1765.”

The reputation of Dr. Shippen as a private teacher had directed attention to him, and secured his election as particularly qualified for the post. During his active career of over thirty years he well sustained the prestige he had previously acquired.

The Medical School of the College of Philadelphia having been founded by the action of the Board of Trustees that has been detailed, the announcement was given to the public in the “Pennsylvania Gazette,” September 26, 1765, as follows:—


“As the necessity of cultivating medical knowledge in America is allowed by all, it is with pleasure we inform the public that a Course of Lectures on two of the most important branches of that useful science, viz., Anatomy and Materia Medica, will be delivered this winter in Philadelphia. We have great reason, therefore, to hope that gentlemen of the Faculty will encourage the design by recommending it to their pupils, that pupils themselves will be glad of such an opportunity of improvement, and that the public will think it an object worthy their attention and patronage.

“In order to render these courses the more extensively useful, we intend to introduce into them as much of the Theory and Practice of Physic, of Pharmacy, Chemistry, and Surgery as can be conveniently admitted.

“From all this, together with an attendance on the practice of the physicians and surgeons of the Pennsylvania Hospital, the students will be able to prosecute their studies with such advantage as will qualify them to practise hereafter with more satisfaction to themselves and benefit to the community.

“The particular advertisements inserted below specify the time when these lectures are to commence, and contain the