Medical Inquiries and Observations

Benjamin Rush (1746–1813) was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and one of the most influential American physicians of his time. Rush became the first professor of chemistry at the College of Philadelphia. His lectures were famous for their clarity and thoroughness. It is said he instructed more than 2,000 students during his career. The library holds more than 30 copies of this publication. This work, a collection of his essays, was reprinted regularly. It contains “An inquiry into the natural history of medicine among the Indians in North America”, where Rush describes the (ineffective) treatment of smallpox.