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<\/a>By Diane Batshaw Eisman, M.D. FAAP<\/strong><\/p>\nThe fireworks have stopped.<\/p>\n
Our proudly flying flag left our balcony to rest before its next outing.<\/p>\n
The fourth of July was just a few days ago.<\/p>\n
And, as a physician, my thoughts have been roaming back to an early time, when a very special medical leader had emerged and cast his long shadow in so many areas besides the practice of Medicine.<\/p>\n
Dr. Benjamin Rush is a familiar name to most of us.<\/p>\n
Not just a respected Philadelphia doctor, he was a politician and a leader of the American Revolution.<\/p>\n
Way back in 1788, he led Pennsylvania in their ratification of the constitution and was a signer of the Declaration of Independence.<\/p>\n
He wore so many hats and even taught chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania. Yet, he still found the time and energy to found The Dickinson College.<\/p>\n
Dr. Rush was Surgeon General of the Continental Army and he did his best in disease prevention in military medicine; writing an order “Directions for preserving the health of soldiers.” His important directive continued to be published many times and was republished for the last time in 1908.<\/p>\n
This curmudgeon becomes exhausted merely listing some of his accomplishments. Indefatigable Ben spoke French, Italian and Spanish; wrote the first textbook on Chemistry to be published in America, in addition to all his essays on patriotism and medical education.<\/p>\n
Even Thomas Paine turned to Benny for some consultation on his pamphlet, “Common Sense.”<\/p>\n
As a wartime doctor, he was able to influence President George Washington to get the whole Continental
\nArmy to inoculate the troops with that new-fangled thing, called the Smallpox vaccine. No small feat in those early days of medicine in this country.<\/p>\n
Dr. Rush was appalled at the sight of slave ships and was a loud voice against slavery and a member of the Pennsylvania Abolition Society<\/p>\n
Good Old Ben! After his attendance at the Continental Congress, he described himself, “He aimed right.”<\/p>\n
Indeed!<\/p>\n
Doctor Curmudgeon\u00ae is Diane Batshaw Eisman, M.D., a physician-satirist. This column originally appeared on SERMO, the leading global social network for doctors.<\/p>\n