Page:A History of the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania.djvu/95

 

CHAPTER VIII.

 

Death of Dr. Hutchinson—Sketch of his life—Election of Dr. Woodhouse to the professorship of chemistry—Resignation of Dr. Griffitts—Sketch of his life—Election of Dr. Barton to the chair of materia medica—Resignation of Dr. Kuhn and election of Dr. Rush to the chair of practice—Creation of the chair of surgery and election of Dr. Physick Professor—First recognition of the ad eundem footing—Petition to the legislature with respect to irregular practitioners—Death of Dr. Shippen and election of Dr. Wistar—Death of Dr. Woodhouse and sketch of his life— Election of Dr. Coxe to the chair of chemistry—Opinion of the faculty with respect to chemistry.

Not long after the coalition of the medical schools and the arrangement of the Faculties under the auspices of the University, a change occurred in the chair of chemistry. Its incumbent, Dr. Hutchinson, died in the autumn of 1793, of the epidemic yellow fever.

Dr. James Hutchinson was born in 1752, in Bucks County, Pa. He was educated at the College of Philadelphia, and graduated with the first honors of his class. He commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Cadwalader Evans, and attended the medical lectures of the college.^[1] In the year 1774, at the time he graduated Bachelor of Medicine, the trustees presented him with a gold medal for his superior knowledge in chemistry. On one side of this medal was represented a circle of laurel, with the inscription on the exergue, “Jacobus Hutchinson 1774.” On the reverse a retort; on the exergue, “Naturæ artisque arcana retexi, Col. Phil.”

Dr. Hutchinson subsequently went to London and continued his medical education under the protection and guidance of Dr. Fothergill. It is stated by his biographer that “while pursuing his studies in Europe the disputes between

1. The tickets of admission to the lectures of the professors are in possession of his grandson, Dr. James Hutchinson. They are written on the back of “Playing Cards.”