belonged to the Society of Friends. He was born in the city of Philadelphia, Sept. 13, 1761, and received a classical education—indeed, he acquired so much familiarity with the Latin language as to be able readily to express himself in it. We are told by his biographer, Chief Justice Tilghman, that his determination to study medicine was settled by an event which aroused his benevolent impulses. “This event was the battle of Germantown, in 1777. His religious principles kept him out of the battle, but his humanity led him to seek the wounded soldier, and he was active in assisting those who were administering relief. His benevolent heart was affected by their sufferings, and so deeply was he struck with the happy effects of the medical art, that he determined to devote his life to a profession formed to alleviate the miseries of mankind.”
He studied medicine with Dr. Redman, and, while a student, was further benefited by the instruction of Dr. John Jones, then practising surgery in Philadelphia.[1] He graduated as Bachelor of Medicine in 1782, at the University. As it is stated that he commenced his studies in 1777, he must have been one of the last pupils of the College, and among the first of the University; and it is not to be wondered at, therefore, that he should so ardently desire, and so actively exert himself to bring about their union in after times.
The statement has been made by Judge Tilghman, and repeated by other biographers, that the Faculty of Medicine, as then constituted, “were not all of one theory, and each Professor examined with an eye to his own system; of this Wistar was aware, and had the address to answer each to his entire satis-
- ↑ Dr. John Jones was the grandson of Dr. Edward Jones, and great grandson of Dr. Wynne. To both of these physicians allusion has been made when speaking of those who emigrated to Pennsylvania with William Penn in 1682. Dr. John Jones was by birth a citizen of New York, and there attained to such eminence as to be appointed to the Professorship of Surgery in King’s College in 1768. About the year 1780 he removed to Philadelphia, and became one of the Physicians of the Pennsylvania Hospital. His regard for Dr. Wistar induced him to exert his influence in bringing the Doctor prominently before the public when yet a young man, and it is reported that when prepared to perform an operation, he insisted on Dr. Wistar taking the knife from him and executing it. Dr. Jones performed the first operation of lithotomy in New York. The Life of Dr. Jones was written by Dr. James Mease, and appended to an edition of the surgical works of that author printed in 1795.
