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Rush (BENJAMIN an American physician)

BENJAMIN, an American physician; born in Philadelphia, Dec. 24, 1745; he was graduated at Princeton in 1760; studied medicine in Philadelphia, Edinburgh, London, and Paris; and in 1769 was made Professor of Chemistry in the Philadelphia Medical College.

Elected a member of the Continental Con gress, he signed the Declaration of Inde pendence (1776). In April, 1777, he was appointed surgeon-general, and in July physician-general, of the Continental army. His duties did not prevent him from writing a series of letters against the articles of confederation of 1776. In 1778 he resigned his post in the army because he could not prevent frauds on soldiers in the hospital stores, and returned to his professorship. He was a founder of the Philadelphia dispensary, the first in the United States, and of the College of Physicians, was active in the establishment of public schools, was a member of the state conventions which ratified the Federal Constitution and formed the State constitution. He next became Professor of the Theory and Practice of Medicine at Philadelphia, to which chair he added those of the Institutes and Practice of Medicine and Clinical Practice (1791); and of the Practice of Physic (1797); and during the epidemic of 1793 he was as successful as devoted in the treatment of yellow fever.

In 1799 Rush was appointed treasurer of the United States Mint, which post he RUSH held till his death. He was called "the Sydenham of America" and his medical works brought him honors from several European sovereigns. He wrote "Medical Inquiries and Observations" (5 vols., 1789-1793); "Essays" (1798), and "Diseases of the Mind" (1812). He died in Philadelphia, April 19, 1813.

RUSKIN bank-controller of Wisconsin, and represented his State from 1871 to 1877 in Congress. In 1882 he was elected governor of Wisconsin and served in that capacity till 1889. He was made secretary of the newly-created Department of Agriculture in 1889, and held this office till 1893. He died in Viroqua, Wis., Nov. 21, 1893. al of Pennsyl-medigaten