Dr. Dorsey published a syllabus of his lectures; but previously to this he had given to the public his “Elements of Surgery,” which appeared in 1813. This work may be regarded as a faithful exponent of the surgery of the day, as it was taught by Dr. Physick, of whose opinions and mode of practice it was the record; and as it was practised by the author himself, whose position as a surgeon of the Pennsylvania Hospital gave him great opportunities for the acquisition of skill and experience. In that institution he tied the internal iliac artery, the first time the operation was performed in this country. Dr. Dorsey was well versed in the literature of European Surgery, and familiar with its condition from personal observation.
The Chair of Anatomy being a second time within the year deprived suddenly of its incumbent, its duties were temporarily performed by Dr. Physick, who was assisted in meeting the additional responsibilities thus thrown upon him by the anatomical skill and dexterity of Dr. Horner. In the following year Dr. Physick was prevailed upon to resign the Professorship of Surgery and accept that of Anatomy, to which he was elected, July 13th, 1819.
The Chair of Surgery was filled, Sept. 7th, 1819, by the election of Dr. William Gibson, of Baltimore, who at the time was Professor of Surgery in the University of Maryland, and enjoyed a high reputation as a practitioner and teacher; and in 1820, Dr. William E. Horner was appointed Adjunct Professor of Anatomy.
the University, 1st of March, 1819. Philadelphia Journal of Medical and Physical Sciences, vol. 1st.
A very interesting Memoir of Dr. Dorsey has been written by Dr. Samuel D. Gross, Professor of Surgery in Jefferson Medical College, and published in his “Lives of Eminent American Physicians and Surgeons of the Nineteenth Century.” Another memoir was published by the Rev. Dr. Janeway.
