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SAMUEL POWEL GRIFFITTS* by WILLIAM S

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SAMUEL POWEL GRIFFITTS* by WILLIAM S SAMUEL POWEL GRIFFITTS* By WILLIAM S. MIDDLETON, M.D. MADISON, WISCONSIN Men like ourselves know how hard it is drew. Yet the mark of his efforts re- to live up to the best standards of medical mains in a number of institutions in duty; know, also, what temptations, intel- his native city and his private and pro- lectual and moral, positive and negative, fessional life might well serve as a assail us all, and can understand the value model to our troubled and restless and beauty of certain characters, which, generation in medicine. like surely guided ships, have left no per- manent trace behind them on life’s great Born to William and Abigail Powel seas, of their direct and absolute devotion Griffitts in Philadelphia on July 21, to duty. ... Of this precious type was 1759, Samuel Powel Griffitts was their Samuel Powel Griffitts. third and last child. Upon the passing of his father his early training devolved HUS spoke S. Weir Mitchell on his mother. His piety and close ad- of the subject of this sketch in herence to the Quaker faith unques- his “Commemorative Address tionably reflected this influence, but upon the Centennial Anni- to the mother may also be attributed Tversary of the Institution of the Collegehis linguistic facility and knowledge of of Physicians of Philadelphia.” the classics. Young Griffitts’ academic Such a characterization at the hands course began in the College of Phila- of so acute and astute an observer of delphia in 1776 and was marked only human nature captivates the interest by a recognition of his superior grasp and imagination. Certain qualities in of the ancient and modern languages. Griffitts contributed to his composite Political turmoil had invaded the halls strength. Reared in the Quaker faith of the College and the interloping Uni- he adhered strictly to its tenets in deed versity of the State of Pennsylvania as well as in form. Plain in dress and eventually granted him the degree of simple in manner his social contacts were superficially austere but intimately bachelor of arts in 1780 after a year’s warm. Devoid of personal affectation delay. he possessed unusual poise and quiet Meanwhile Griffitts’ interest in medi- social grace. In his judgment punctual- cine as a profession had apparently ity was a cardinal virtue in the physi- arisen from his services during the Bat- cian and he practiced his preaching. His tle of Germantown. Religious scruples professional appointments were scrupu- had naturally precluded the enlistment lously kept. Unostentatious, he assidu- of many Quakers in the Continental ously shunned public attention; and Army; but with a sanguinary battle al- when his good services in the public most within their midst and with weal became the object of unsought but friends as well as foes among the deserved notice, he unobtrusively with- wounded, sympathy prevailed and * Read before the Medical History Seminar of the University of Wisconsin, at the home of Dr. William Snow Miller. much of the succor afforded the troops long period of nearly fifty years’ practice. about Philadelphia came from these And whilst we admire and applaud the traditional opponents of force. Among propriety of his conduct, an occasion like the voluntary first aid workers at Ger- mantown were Caspar Wistar and Samuel Powel Griffitts; and in both, this experience weighed heavily in the choice of a profession. Adam Kuhn, a student and friend of Linnaeus, be- came Griffitts’ preceptor and the in- timacy between the two grew with the years. In the Eclectic Repertory for 1818 there appeared a “Biographic Notice of Doctor Adam Kuhn by One of His Pupils.” Its authorship is generally at- tributed to Griffitts and by reason of the obvious transfer of personal character- istics two passages are cited. The first of these reflects the reticence of both pre- ceptor and pupil: This is not the only instance, in which a dislike to appear before the public, has deprived us of the experience of those, who were best qualified, by their talents and observations, to communicate instruc- the present should not be lost to endeav- tion. The account of men who have our to produce a change in the prevailing been uncommonly useful, although they manner of our country, with respect to the may have passed through life without fulfilment of engagements, by holding up much eclat, is nevertheless of great impor- to public view, the practice of an ines- tance, when they can be held up as profit- timable fellow citizen, who always acted able examples to survivors. like one that regarded punctuality as a sacred duty. The second quotation gives some in- sight into the zealous adherence of At some time during this period of Kuhn to the high position of punctual- preceptorship under Adam Kuhn, Grif- ity among the human virtues, in which fitts served as an apprentice in the the pupil Griffitts heartily concurred. Philadelphia Almshouse. In 1781 he was granted the degree of bachelor of But a most prominent feature in his medicine by the University of the State character, was a strict punctuality, and ob- of Pennsylvania and thereafter sought servance of all his engagements. This in- the broadening influence of foreign estimable virtue can never be too highly inculcated to a physician. The want of it study. The turbulent times temporarily is a deviation from truth, and the conse- closed the centers of his choice, Edin- quence of such deficiency is replete with burgh and London, to him. So in 1781 endless inconvenience. It would be diffi- he turned to the Continent for his cult, justly to charge him with a voluntary training. In Paris he attended the medi- departure from this correct course, in the cal lectures and clinical exercises in the hospitals. (Fig. 2.) Montpellier was en- Sound clinical judgment rather than joying a short season of revived popu- brilliancy marked his daily work. Yet, larity largely through the efforts of widely read in the medical literature, Barthez. This theorist had succeeded he was not averse to the trial of new Bordeu and advanced the vital princi- procedures that promised reasonable ple in the explanation for physiologic success. Griffitts early earned his spurs phenomena. To this medical center as a consultant and as a physicians’ doc- Griffitts came in the autumn of 1782 tor, the highest tribute to a medical and expressed sincere admiration for man. In these relations his conduct was the medical philosophy of Barthez. ethical and doubtless much of his suc- After a tour of southern France he re- cess depended upon his admitted erudi- turned to Paris late in the following tion, clinical insight and measured Spring and thence to London in June, decisiveness. It is significant that with 1783. Finally his journeyings brought Mease, Dorsey, Physick and James him to Edinburgh, the mecca of all Rush, Griffitts attended Benjamin Rush young American medical students of in his last illness. that period. For a session, 1783-4, he Conspicuous among Griffitts’ services was privileged to sit before a faculty to his fellow Philadelphians were his that included Cullen, Monro secundus, repeated labors in combating the re- Gregory, Black and Hamilton. Griffitts curring epidemics of yellow fever. returned to London in the Spring of Thoughtless of self and personal ad- 1784 and embarked from Portsmouth vantage he remained at his post of duty for Philadelphia in the early Fall. throughout the pestilences of 1793, A letter from John R. B. Rodgers to !795> *797> 1798> i799> 1802 and 18o5- Benjamin Rush dated London, July 7, With a small group of fellow practi- 1784 states that Griffitts “returns to tioners he kept the faith that raises our Philadelphia with a high idea of our profession above the trades. When the University; he will be able to tell you, ranks of practitioners were reduced to what he has often told me, that he has six by sickness, death and desertion received more satisfaction and improve- during the awful summer and autumn ment from his medical masters in of 1793, the city was districted among Philadelphia than anywhere else.” those remaining and to Griffitts fell the In his native city Griffitts gathered populous central section. Measuring the loose strands of his social and pro- his resources carefully, he met every de- fessional contacts. The first city direc- mand upon his time and energy until he tory of November, 1785 listed only contracted the fever. He was bled seven forty-six physicians and two dentists. times in five days by Benjamin Rush His office was located in Union above and with great reluctance left the city Second Street. His quick sympathy and upon recovery. (Fig. 3.) His biographer benevolence greatly abetted his rounded Coates remarked that “passage through training in assuring success in general such a fiery ordeal contributed much to practice. It became evident to the laity temper and anneal that remarkable as well as to the medical profession that character for regularity and unfailing here was a man whose primary interest punctuality, for which he was so con- was service to humanity. Lofty as were spicuous in after life.” his ideals, his practice lacked none of A remarkable day-book of the epi- the cool practicality of his religious sect. demic of yellow fever of 1798 from Griffitts’ hand is preserved in the Li- fever of 93-97. By early bleeding—mer- brary of the College of Physicians of cury to affect the mouth he was quite re- Philadelphia through the generosity of covered on the 25. His store was on wharf S. Weir Mitchell. It is a document of near which lay . which had arrived surpassing human interest aside from from Jeremie ..
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