RUSH, BENJAMIN, Mn.,. an American physician, was b. near Philadelphia, Dec. 24, 1745, was educated at Princeton college, studied medicine in Philadelphia, London, Edinburgh, and Paris, and in 1769 was made professor of chemistry in the Philadelphia medical college, and became a contributor to medical literature. Elected a member of the continental congress, lie advocated and signed the declaration of independence. In 1777 he was appointed surgeon-gen. and physician-gen, of the continental army. His duties did not prevent him from writing a series of letters on the constitution of Pennsyl vania, which was changed by his influence. He resigned his post in the army, because he could not prevent frauds upon soldiers in the hospital stores. In 1785 be planned the Philadelphia dispensary, the first in the United States; and was a member of the con vention which ratified the federal constitution. Retiring from politics, he became pro
lesser of the theory and practice of medicine in the Philadelphia medical college; and was so successful in the treatment of yellow fever in 1793 that lie was believed to have saved the lives of 6,000 persons. His practice, in consequence. become so large that he prescribed for 100 patients a day, whom lie saw even at his meals. Virulently attacked. by Cobbett, who published a newspaper in Philadelphia. lie prosecuted him for a libel, and recovered $5,000 damages. His medical works produced honors from several Euro pean sovereigns. The chief of them were Medical Inquiries and Observations, Diseases of the Mind, ..Ifedical Tracts, Health,' Temperance, and Exercise. In 1779 he was appointed treasurer of the United States mint, which post he held until his death in Philadelphia, April 19. 1813.