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JOHN REDMAN* by WILLIAM SHAINLINE MIDDLETON, M.D

[From Neander: Tabacologia. Lugduni Batavorum, 1626.]

ANNALS OF MEDICAL HISTORY Volume VIII Autu mn , 1926 Numbe r 3

JOHN REDMAN* By WILLIAM SHAINLINE MIDDLETON, M.D.

MADISON, WISCONSIN

OLONIAL life in form the American Philosophical Society was was effected in 1769 with Dr. Franklin established on a lofty as president and with two of its three intellectual plane, vice-presidents physicians: Thomas Cad- which found expres- walader and Thomas Bond. An appreciation sion in several organ- of the part that physicians and medi- izations having as cine were to play in its transactions was their primary pur- foretold by this election. It was furthermore pose the improvement of the members or of to be anticipated that as the several inde- humanity at large. To pendent, but component, interests in the the owed its inception and from this vast field of science should grow, daughter exclusive group of the leathern apron whose organizations would come into being for favor became widely sought, arose the Phila- the development of their specialized fields delphia Library Company (1731) and The of knowledge. American Society for Promoting and Propag- Thus it was that from the parent Philo- ating Useful Knowledge (1766). Both of these sophical Society, a College of Physicians organizations have continued to function to arose in Philadelphia in 1787. Twenty-two the present day. In the case of the latter, an years previously the Philadelphia Medical amalgamation with a younger group to Society had taken its place as the pioneer * Read before the Medical History Seminar, Uni- medical society in the Colonies. In Novem- versity of Wisconsin, January, 1926. ber, 1768, this'group joined forces with the Note . Sincere appreciation is herewith expressed American Society for Promoting Useful to Mr. Charles Perry Fisher of the Library of the Knowledge and in passing out of existence College of Physicians and to Mr. Bunford Samuel of the Ridgway Library for the photographs and left no trace of its proceedings. The New photostatic reproductions included in this sketch. Jersey and Massachusetts societies, inclu- sive in their membership and organization, addressed Rush from London in August of were established in 1766 and 1781, respec- the same year: “Your idea of an American tively. It may then be asserted that the College of Physicians is what has several College of Physicians of Philadelphia has times occurred to me.” Furthermore John enjoyed the longest uninterrupted exist- C. Lettsom, an English patron of medicine ence of any similar medical body in this in this country, encouraged Rush in his plan. country. Her roll call includes names of The interested parties probably met to undying luster in service to medicine and organize in the old Academy at Fourth mankind. Indeed, the brilliant past of the and Arch Streets in September, 1786, but College is written in her Redman, Morgan, it was not until January 2, 1787, that the proceedings of the College began. This date is established by the minutes. In its constitution published in The Packet and Daily Advertiser, February 1, 1787, a high ideal was set for its existence:

The objects of this College, are, to advance the Science of Medicine, and thereby to lessen human misery by investigating the diseases and remedies which are peculiar to our country, by observing the effects of different seasons, climates, and situations upon the Human Body, by recording the changes that are produced by diseases by the progress of Agriculture, Arts, Population and manners, by searching for medicines in our woods, Waters and the bowels Rush, Jones, Shippen, Kuhn, Wistar, Bar- of the Earth, by enlarging our avenues to ton, Chapman, Wood, Pancoast, Gerhard, knowledge; from the discoveries and publica- McClellan, Norris, Stille, Leidy, Mitchell, tions of foreign countries, by appointing stated Gross, Agnew, Pepper and a host of other times for Literary intercourse and communica- tions, and by cultivating order and uniformity names high in medical attainment. in the practice of Physick. Naturally, the College of Physicians did not come into being spontaneously or S. Weir Mitchell has described the first through the efforts of a single interested gathering in his inimitable style: individual. Doubtless, its organization had By the dim light of candles, for which I have been for many years the subject of discus- found the modest bill, clad after the fashion of sion among physicians of the city. The the day, some in Quaker dress and some in knee crystallization of the plan in all probability breeches, silk stockings, and low shoes with depended on the dynamic . buckles, most of them carrying, I fancy, the At least from the Rush manuscripts there gold-headed cane and the meditative snuff-box, may be gleaned in several sources refer- some with queues or powdered wigs, a fading ences to his expression of such a plan. On fashion, were John Jones, William Shippen, Jr., June 25, 1783, Dr. Francis Rigby Brodbelt , Benjamin Rush, Thomas Parke, of Spanish Town, Jamaica, in a letter to Gerardus Clarkson, Samuel Duffield, James Rush implied the existence of such an Hutchinson, William W. Smith, Andrew Ross, William Clarkson, James Hall, William Currie. institution: “I wish much to belong to your Philosophical Society at Philadelphia, , John Morgan, George Glent- and to be an honorary or ordinary fellow worth, Abraham Chovet, Benjamin Say, of your College of Physicians.” A fellow Samuel Powel GrifFitts, Benjamin Duflicld, Philadelphian, Samuel Powel GrifFitts, thus John Morris, John Carson, John Foulke and Robert Harris had been added to the roll of the light of day in the city of his later pro- Fellows and Junior Fellows by the birthday fessional achievement, on February 27, of the College, January 2, 1787. 1722. John Redman received his early The first election of officers of the Col- education in the Reverend Mr. Tennent’s lege was held in October, 1786, however, Academy at Neshaminey, Bucks County, and to the presidency was elected John Pennsylvania. Greek and Latin were the Redman, ripe in years and high in the favored studies in this boarding school and esteem of his fellow-practitioners and fel- young Redman gained considerable facility low-citizens. His Inaugural Address was in the classical languages. The subsequent postponed until December, 1786, by reason clerical careers of his schoolmates, Gilbert of his inability to attend the preceding meeting. In accepting the high honor bestowed upon him, Redman expressed his profound gratitude and his sense of inade- quacy. His habitual self-abnegation is typi- fied by his words:

[I] look within myself and consider my powers . . . and also that line of life which I have walked in from choice, having in my constitu- tional frame no great desires of exaltation above the middle state, or high ambition than to conduct therein rather with integrity and use- fullness than eclat. After such a view I say it would be vanity or Arrogance in me, not to suppose that my Election was more owing to the generous benevolence of your own minds, as a mark of respect to my age and longer Standing in the profession, and as a kind of disinterested testimony of your Approbation of my general Conduct in life and regularity in the practice of our art, Than to any peculiar merit of mine. True, John Redman was the Nestor of the Fellows of the College, being sixty-five years of age, whereas the next oldest Tennent, Daniel Lawrence and Rogers, Fellow was John Jones, fifty-eight years undoubtedly influenced his religious devo- old. Redman, in this address, voiced his tions later in life, since these men corre- regret that by death the honor conferred sponded with him regularly. on him had been denied two worthy con- Redman’s medical education began in temporaries, and the difficult apprenticeship under Dr. John Thomas Bond. He bespoke the assistance Kcarsley, Sr., of Philadelphia, of whom of those “whom I have the honor to call John Bard wrote that he had “a morose my professional children.” The inaugural and churlish temper, which banished all was concluded by invoking divine aid and cheerfulness and social converse from his guidance in the affairs of the College. pupils and rendered him an unpleasant The physician who had arisen to this companion.” S. Weir Mitchell has enumer- position of honor and trust in the first ated among the functions of Kearsley’s presidency of this new organization was a apprentices: “servant, coachman, messen- Philadelphian by birth, having first seen ger-boy, prescription clerk, nurse and assist- ant surgeon.” The Bond brothers, Lloyd student in , copied in turn by Zachary, Thomas Cadwalader, William B. Duffield, one of his later students in Shippen, Sr., Cadwalader Evans, John Philadelphia, are preserved in the College Kearsley, Jr., and John Bard complete the of Physicians. Those from Monro constitute roll of familiar names of distinguished in effect a brief history of anatomy, whereas physicians who survived the rigorous pre- the Alston lectures on materia medica ceptorship of John Kearsley, Sr. are much more comprehensive. The title In that day of sailing vessels the tide of page to the latter is interesting: “A Course commerce followed the trade winds and of Publick Lectures on Materia Medica commercial intercourse between the Atlan- by Charles Alston, Professor of the Mat. Med. and Bottany In the Colledge of Edinburgh Taken from his mouth during the time of Lecturing By John Redman Student of Physick and Surgery in the same CoIIcdge in proprium usum—Anno Domini —1746.” Some confusion exists in the records of the sequence of events succeeding the Edinburgh sojourn. It is at least certain that Redman studied under Albinus, Gau- bius and Musschcnbrock in Leyden. Here he was graduated July 15, 1748, defending his thesis, “De Abortu.” Redman concluded his essay thus: “Faxit Deus Ter Opt. Max. ut Haecce mea studia et conamina dirigantur in nominis sui gloriam, proxi- morumque salutem.” (God grant that my studies and labors may be directed to the glory of his name, and to the welfare of tic seaboard and the West Indies formed a my neighbors.) larger share of the life of the English Completing his medical course in Leyden, colonies than in the later days of steamships. Redman sought to further his training in The natural outcome of this relationship the medical centers of Paris and London. was the more common transplantation of Of the Paris period no record is extant. young medical men from North America to In London he attended lectures and further that field. John Redman practiced medicine pursued his anatomical studies by dissec- in Bermuda for several years. The oppor- tion. His activities apparently centered in tune financial support of his father, sup- Guy’s , from whose staff the follow- plemented by a Ioan from Judge Allen, ing testimonial was obtained: enabled him to seek his finishing touches We think the character of Dr. John Redman in Europe. so much deserves our approbation, that it is Edinburgh was in its heyday and it was with pleasure we can say, that after having but natural that Redman should find his spent a considerable time in the universities of way to the feet of Monro primus. Indeed, Edinburgh and Leyden, in which last he had the thither were to go practically all of the degree of doctor of physic conferred on him, men who molded early medical education and made all the improvements necessary to in America. So far as can be ascertained, a the knowledge of physic, he has with great year was spent in Edinburgh under Monro, application attended the practice of this hospi- Sinclair, Alston, Plummer and Rutherford. tal, by which means he has so well qualified Painstaking notes of the young medical himself that we doubt not his future success will answer to the care and pains he has taken to and full of anecdotes, or serious and instructing deserve it. according to the nature of his patients’ diseases, Signed or the state of their minds. A lady, whom he —Clark e , m.d . attended in a fatal consumption, said to one of Cha s . Fea ke , m.d . his friends, that “death had nothing terrible N. Mun ckle y , m.d . in it when Dr. Redman spoke to her about it.” Guy’s Hospital Weir Mitchell was the spokesman for the Feb. 21, 1748-9. medical profession when he stated that “one would like to possess the secret of With a medical training far surpassing his most favored townsmen, Redman this anaesthetic kindness.” A letter to one of his patients, a Mrs. returned to Philadelphia. His professional success was early assured. Indeed, so great Ferguson, dated May 3, 1773, is to be found in the Library of the Historical Society of was the demand on his time and strength Pennsylvania: that he found it necessary to limit his activity to medicine. It has been stated Dear Madam: that he eschewed surgery and I should have answered your favor before, but from a desire to specialize in medicine, but still waited to do it by my wife who tho very unquestionably the limitations set by his desirous of going, has been hindered by weather delicate constitution decided this issue. In or some other particular circumstance till now. keeping with the therapeutic principles of I am sorry that you feel discouraged at my saying I thought the case not wholly nervous, the time, Redman believed that more by which I only meant that there was probably strenuous treatment and dosage were indi- some local debility, or impediments to the urine, cated for the American than for his English besides what might arise from the general cousin. This curious fancy held sway for disorders of the nerves, and perhaps will be full several generations longer, as the vitriolic as likely (if not more so) to be remedied, than Charles Caldwell bore witness. The princi- if it was wholly in the nerves; however we shall ples of Boerhaave tempered by the British be able to judge better after taking these influence of Sydenham marked his early medicines which I hope you continue steadily practice. It was characteristic of his adapta- to use; Thus far I wrote when yours by Mr. bility that he should late in life absorb the Ferguson informs me that you are rather better, teachings of Cullen and indeed adopt the but not yet begun the pills, so that we must still essentials of the dissolute Brown. Through- wait for their conjunct Effects. I am sorry you out his life he stood ready to revamp his are more costive under them, They generally theory and practice of medicine with the have the contrary Effect. Let me know by the return of my wife, more particularly changing tide of time. A phlebotomist of respecting the urine since you have used. the old school, he measured lances with the With due respects, I am Dr. Mad’m most able of its opponents in Philadelphia, Your affectionate friend & Hble Sevt a position which found him at the side of John Redman Benjamin Rush in spirit if not in person in the trying days of 1793. Always punctual Certainly no clinician would gainsay Dr. in his appointments, Redman held his Redman’s wisdom and prudence in medical clientele through faithful attention to their advice on this account. needs. Of his bedside manner a charming Watson has preserved an amusing episode description is preserved: of Redman’s rebuttal of a seeker for gratui- tous medical advice: Following his accus- Ina sick room he possessed virtues and talents tomed habit the doctor had entered a of a specific kind. He suspended pain by his public house to do some writing. Whereupon soothing manner, or chased it away by his the ubiquitous leech accosted him. Redman conversation, which was occasionally facetious feigned deafness and the questioner repeated: “Doctor! what would you advise as the extensive influence over the practice of best thing for a pain in the chest?” Dr. medicine in this country than Dr. Redman.” Redman meditated for a moment after This reputation depended less on his medical replacing his tilted wig and replied, “Oh! practice, which could in that period have ay—I will tell you, my good friend, the exerted only a very local influence, than on

very best thing I could advise you to do his services as a preceptor and his active for a pain in the breast is to consult your participation in every good work in the physician!” medical and civic community of Philadel- To his patients he was the soul of devo- phia. Redman was not a prolific contribu- tion, and it came to pass that “no physician tor to medical literature. His graduation of his day exerted a more powerful and thesis, “De Abortu,” was a creditable performance, but obviously without bearing imported from Savannah in the person of a on the practice of midwifery, in which he sailor, stricken by the disease on ship- was said to have excelled, but which he board, whose friends secretly brought him early forsook from ill health. As early as to the house of one Leadbetter, living close 1759 Redman published a defense of inocu- by the “new” market. For this short-

lation and urged the use of mercury as sighted act Leadbetter paid dearly with his a “preparative” for smallpox. This pam- own life and with those of a number of phlet was addressed to the public and its his immediate family. convincing yet kindly tone won many Redman devoted the great share of his adherents to the practice. presentation to the treatment of yellow His account of the epidemic of yellow fever. For the prevention of the fever he fever of 1762, prepared at the request of advised temperance in all things. He urged his “professional children” and read before that the physician pay no visit to a sick the College in 1793, was deemed worthy of patient on an empty stomach. An inevitable preservation for its medical and historical quid of tobacco in the mouth possessed interest by that body as late as 1865. The peculiar virtue, since it prevented the chronology of this account was derived in a swallowing of saliva. The danger of con- large measure from Redman’s day book. tagion was, in his opinion, much reduced The epidemic began August 28, 1762, through the fumes evolved by plunging a reached its peak in the fourth week of hot iron into a bowl of vinegar. The mani- September and ceased in the fourth week fold prophylactic measures then in vogue of October. This outbreak was virtually were, with the exceptions stated, disap- confined to an area bounded by Pine proved by Redman as affecting the mind, Street to the north, thence three or four “with such fears as 1 thought were likely squares south and from Water Street on to render me more susceptible of infection the east (Delaware River) to Third or than the omission of them.” While an active Fourth Street on the west. Redman sub- bloodletter in many other conditions, he scribed to the belief that the first case was reserved the lancet in this fever for those with a full pulse or attendant pregnancy. the fluids, resist their effects, and strengthen His active therapy was influenced by his the whole habit for their expulsion, and with old preceptor, Dr. John Kearsley, Sr., such kind of nutriment as was adapted to and partook most decisively fo the poly- the same purpose, or to restore strength to therapeutic demands of the time. Ater the debilitated powers after the disease was the practice of Kearsley he purged his terminated. yellow fever patients with Glauber’s salt, This exposition of the rationale of the using one dram every hour or two for up- depletion therapy of yellow fever at that ward of four doses or until the “bilious period is particularly lucid. matter was turned downwards and plenti- Whatever honor may be Redman’s due in the world of medicine by reason of his scant medical publications or his preemi- nence in practice, it is far outweighed by his contributions to medical education. The physical isolation of the Colonies and their total lack of facilities for medical instruction afforded ideal conditions for the growth of the preceptor system. Indeed, only the favored sons of the well-to-do were granted the coveted opportunity for foreign training. Probably the inherent sense of fully discharged.” To counteract the the inadequacy of their local education depressing action of such depletion, he impelled the more fortunate of the appren- administered “wine, vinegar, whey, thin tices to follow their master’s footsteps to gruel or Barley and raisin drink with a Edinburgh, London and the Continent. little wine in it.” The saline laxative was On the other hand it was especially fitting repeated on the second day, but only two that those individuals who had been so or three doses were given. Tartar vitriolate favored, should open their offices to “house was exhibited as an anti-emetic. Carmina- pupils” and apprentices on their return. To tives in the form of mint or cinnamon water share the board and in turn to reflect the and decoctions of snake root were deemed glory of John Redman, came a most notable useful. group of young men, including John Mor- A significant passage reveals Redman’s gan, founder of the first medical school in conception of the disease and his reaction North America, Benjamin Rush, the most toward its therapy: brilliant American clinician of all times, termed by Lettsom the American Syden- But a plain inference from our manner of ham, Caspar Wistar, the first American encountering it is, that whatever might be the contributor to anatomical science and specific quality of the morbid cause, its effects author of the first American treatise on this were a stagnation and corruption of the bile subject, and , the found- and the contents of all the abdominal glands, er of medical journalism in Pennsylvania. dissolving the blood and other fluids, and Nor were Redman’s collateral efforts thereby depraving and debilitating all the confined to medical preceptorship; for on functions of life, and rendering them unfit and unable to preserve it, and that our chief curative February io, 1752, he was appointed to intentions were to discharge the morbid matter serve as a consultant to the Pennsylvania as fast as possible, first by the prima viae, and Hospital. Serving with him were Drs. then by the pores of the skin and the urinary Graeme, Cadwalader and Moore. With passages, and at the same time using such the managers of the hospital, several fellow medicines as tended to correct any acrimony in consultants and some thirty students, he attended Dr. Thomas Bond’s introductory on his journey from Mt. Vernon to New lecture at the latter’s home on November York in 1789 was strenuously opposed by 26, 1766, which preceded the first clinical the College because of a prevailing epi- courses at the by demic of influenza. Hence a committee, one week. Redman’s interest in this ancient including Redman in its membership, was institution of mercy did not wane until, by appointed on April 16 to advise the civil reason of ill health, he withdrew from authorities of the danger. In November of participation in its active affairs after the same year he served on a committee twenty-nine years of service. He, likewise, from the College advising the Legislature served as trustee of the College of Phila- as to measures of prevention against the delphia and of the College of New Jersey. introduction of contagious diseases into In the former capacity he acted from 1762 the state. Singularly on this committee until the union of the College of Phila- served James Hutchinson, who was to be delphia with the University of the State a martyr in the yellow fever epidemic of of Pennsylvania to form the University of 1793. In his official position as president of Pennsylvania in 1791. Whether or not his the College, Dr. Redman advised Governor resignation was in the nature of a protest Thomas Mifflin in September, 1799, that it is not recorded. From 1784 Redman was would not be safe to hold elections in Com- active as an cider in the Presbyterian missioners Hall, Southwark or in the State Church. House on account of the fever, but that His interest in medical organizations Town Hall in Northern Liberties would be found an early expression in his membership an acceptablc’polling place. In November, in the short-lived Philadelphia Medical 1793, the College rejected the Rush report Society, the priority of whose foundation to Governor Mifflin and adopted a substi- (February, 1765) has been established. At tute incorporating the theory of the foreign the time of its amalgamation with the origin of yellow fever. On November 28, American Society for Promoting Useful 1799, Redman, contrary to his own opinion Knowledge (November n, 1768), Graeme, and to that of his distinguished student, Cadwalader, Redman, Morgan, Kearsley, Benjamin Rush, then withdrawn from the Clarkson, Bayard, Harris, Rush, Souman, College, affixed his signature to a majority Glentworth and Potts, presumably the report of the College reaffirming its belief in entire membership of the medical society, the foreign origin of yellow fever. The con- were constituted a committee on physic. troversy which waged over this point Until his death, Redman maintained his threatened to disrupt the College and indeed membership in the American Philosophical had driven from its fold such representative Society, which succeeded the American men as Rush, Caldwell, Dcwees, Coxe and Society for Promoting Useful Knowledge. Physick. It is a matter of some historical As has been indicated, Redman was one interest that with few exceptions the sup- of the founders and the first president of porters of the theory of the foreign origin of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia. yellow fever had been deserters from their In his relations to this organization he was posts of professional duty during the several most faithful. He was rarely absent from epidemics. the stated meetings and his counsel was Ill health deprived Rush of the active sought on frequent occasions. Thus we find support of his preceptor in the appalling him on the committees for forming a phar- epidemics of yellow fever, beginning with macopoeia and for presenting the College that of 1793. Apparently his continued pres- charter to the legislature in 1788. The pro- ence in Philadelphia, as related to Rever- posed general illumination on the occasion end Ashbell Green, during the epidemic of of Washington’s passage through the city 1798 was contingent on the promise of medical inactivity made to his wife. Redman then) a quick motion, as though at the moment had retired from practice at a relatively he was endeavoring to extract the essence of a early age because of ill health, which had small quid. for years limited his activities. At forty Another noted: years of age, Redman suffered from a The Doctor was hard of hearing; but brisk subphrenic abscess, which, rupturing intra- and lively in his movement and address to any thoracically, was discharged through the one having business with him, and pleasant to a bronchi. Subsequent to this primary illness degree. When spoken to, he usually lifted with a there were frequent periods of incapacity finger the corner of his wig from one ear, in throughout his long life. His famous report listening attitude. While on the street, every on the yellow fever epidemic of 1762 con- one seemed pleased on observing the light elastic step of the very respectable old gentleman. tains references to the infirmities of age, superinduced by rheumatism and influenza, In the matter of personality, posterity and there is evidence that he suffered two likewise fares well in the vivid description attacks of yellow fever. Withal the feeling of Redman. Weir Mitchell summarizes him gathers that this old master marshalled his thus: “A man gentle without lacking forces well to exceed the Biblical span by force, religious without a trace of bigotry, some sixteen years. and finding in his faith only larger reasons John Redman, the physical man, lives for cheerfulness. Quick of temper and as to posterity through several interesting quick to regret it; punctual, charitable, word pictures. He was somewhat below exact, a type of what the practice of our average height. His eyes were black and profession makes of the best characters, he unusually animated. His complexion was constantly declined political place.” Red- swarthy. The mental vigor was stamped man apparently mellowed with years. At by his active speech and gesture. Dr. least Christian forbearance and tolerance James Rush wrote thus of his perennial superseded hasty judgment and angry visits on a fat pony mare to his old friends, expression in his declining years. subsequent to his retirement: Of the old home in Second Street near I remember him well hitching her to the turn- Arch, next to Dr. Ustick’s Baptist meeting- buckle of the mansion shutter, so that she house, only one room is preserved, through always stoed on the foot-pavement, when he the medium of a descriptive word-picture visited my father which he made it a point to do in Poulson’s American Daily Advertiser of once or twice a year. In the rough cutting of his September 26, 1828. Fortunately it con- likeness, which was given to me by a member of cerns the Doctor’s work-shop: his family, the hat, wig, nose, mouth, chin, eye, His antique study, in the middle back room, dress, person, expression, and character are now merged in part of a China Store, then admirably true. The mare is not so well done. exhibited the remains of consultation and The doctor retired from practice about 1785, practice, in byegone times. Being kept there, and was known to the public as an antiquated one day, waiting as was thought an undue looking old gentleman. He was usually habited length of time for his coming downstairs, the in a broadskirted dark coat, with long pocket- writer could not otherwise than note the ancient flaps, buttoned across his under dress, and wear- Franklin open stove, placed within, and under ing, in strict conformity to the cut of his coat, a the chimney as far as possible,—the labelled pair of Baron Steuben’s military shaped boots, vials of various sizes paraded along the mantle coming above the knees. piece and suspended over all, in a black and gilt Watson continues the description thus: edged frame, now soiled by dust and age, upon His hat flapped before, and cocked up smartly the spacious old-fashioned ornamented wood behind, covering a full bottomed powdered work an engraved likeness of “Horace,” with wig—in the front of which might be seen an eagle- mottos, almost illegible beneath;—old musty pointed nose, separating a pair of piercing black papers folded away, and old Books here and eyes—his lips, exhibiting (but only now and there; an old great coat also folded carefully across the leather bottomed chair, near the fire. every other consideration. He served as one of In the center of the room stood a small hoary the Physicians to the Pennsylvania Hospital, looking round table, covered with faded green and presided in the College of Physicians of baize, and resting upon it, an old folio, closed;— Philadelphia, until his declining strength obliged a queer looking Standish for writing, and a pen him to resign those situations. with untrimmed feather sticking therein. In the early and middle stages of his life, he Soon after establishing himself in Phila- did homage to the Gospel of Jesus Christ; but delphia John Redman was married to the evening of his life, was distinguished in a Mary Sobers, an accomplished woman, who peculiar manner by the humility, patience, bore him two sons and two daughters. cheerfulness, and benevolence which character- The boys did not survive infancy, so that ize the Christian. His whole business for many the name of Redman as derived by direct years before he died, was to do good and to diffuse pleasure and instruction by his animated lineage was interrupted in the John Redman and pious conversation, to an extensive circle of branch of the family. The elder daughter friends and acquaintances. His remains were married Daniel Coxe, the King’s counsel interred on Tuesday following, in the Presby- for New Jersey, in 1770. Maintaining his terian Church Yard, in Arch Street, attended allegiance to the crown, he returned to by a large concourse of respectable citizens. England during the Revolution and his Thus passed from the scene of medical wife and children followed him in 1785. life in Philadelphia a worthy master of This detachment was especially trying to the old school. His type, with its superior one of John Redman’s sincere devotion. training and lofty ideals of medical prac- Nor did this daughter return until 1806, tice, acted as a stop-gap in a period of when the death of her sister, who had made American history when medical schools her home with the parents, left the old and training were unknown. Indeed, the folks isolated from kin. Mrs. Redman first medical school in America was not died, in the succeeding November, at the founded until fifteen or sixteen years after ripe age of eighty-four, after a married life John Redman entered the practice of covering almost sixty years. medicine in Philadelphia. Singularly John John Redman did not long survive his Morgan, one of its founders, and Benjamin wife. On Friday, the eighteenth of March, Rush, one of the most brilliant teachers in 1808, he walked to the home of his grandson its history, were his students. Still more for tea. As he attempted to light the candles significant is the present tendency of medi- it was remarked that he staggered. A stroke cal instruction to revert to the preceptor of apoplexy succeeded and Redman suc- plan in the hope of regaining in a measure cumbed the following day. the lost art of medicine. John Redman Contemporary judgment and obituary did not live in vain. notices are notoriously uncritical of the Rush has preserved for posterity a toast dead, and eulogistic effusions imply a once proposed to the medical profession by verbal bias in favor of the deceased. With John Redman: these reservations, the following notice The dignity and success of the healing from Poulson’s American Advertiser of art; and long health, competent wealth, and March 23, 1808, may be considered: exquisite happiness to the individual practi- Died, suddenly, on Saturday afternoon in tioner, who makes the health and comfort and the 87th year of his age, Dr. John Redman. happiness of his fellow mortals one of the chief This venerable physician finished his educa- ends and delights of his life, and acts therein tion in Europe, and graduated as Doctor of from motives that render him superior to all Medicine in the University of Leyden; for more the difficulties he may have to encounter in the than half a century he exercised his profession pursuit thereof. in this city with singular reputation, integrity and humanity, always and affectionately pre- These words are John Redman’s benedic- ferring the health and lives of his patients to tion to us, his remote “professional children.”

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