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 Dr.
John Fothergill had his practice based in London, but was still
instrumental in Pennsylvania Hospital history. A benevolent friend
of Benjamin Franklin, he took great interest in assisting the
hospital, and he helped Franklin to advance the new institution's
interests in England. In 1762 he sent seven cases of anatomical
drawings by Jan Van Rymsdyk (considered to be the best anatomical
artist of his day) and three anatomical casts of a pregnant woman
(on display along the south wall of the Historic Library) to
Pennsylvania Hospital. The drawings and plaster casts were greatly
valued by medical students and lay public alike, who attended
anatomy lectures with Dr. William Shippen, Jr. for a small fee.
The text of Dr. Fothergill's letter to Pennsylvania Hospital's
Managers appears below (in the writing style of the day), as
well as an excerpt from the Minutes of the meeting of the Board
of Managers at which they received the gift.
Dr. Fothergill also donated the first book to the library: Experimental
History of the Materia Medica by William Lewis (H. Baldwin,
London: 1761). Dr. Fothergill's own investigations and writings
covered the subjects of natural philosophy, therapeutics, pharmacy
and botany - many of which are included in his collection of Works (Charles
Dilly, London: 1784), also in the library's collection. Franklin
said of his friend: "I can hardly conceive that a better
man ever existed."
From Dr. Fothergill to James Pemberton, fourth secretary to
the Board of Managers, April 7, 1762:
....I purpose to send by Docr Shippen a present to it of some
intrinsic Value tho' not probably of immediate Benefitt, I
need not tell thee that the Knowledge of Anatomy is of exceeding
great use to Practitioners in Physic & Surgery & that
the means of procuring Subjects with you are not easy, some
pretty accurate anatomical Drawings about half as big as the
Life have fallen into my hands & Which I purpose to send
to your Hospital to be under the care of the Physicians & to
be by some of them explained to the Students or pupils who
may attend the Hospital.
In the want of real Subjects these will have their Use & I
have recommended it to Dr. Shippen to give a Course of Anatomical
Lectures to such as may attend, he is very well qualified for
the Subject & will soon be followed by an able Assistant
Dr. Morgan both of whom I apprehend will not only be useful
to the Province in their Employments but if suitably countenanced
by the Legislature will be able to erect a School for Physic
amongst you that may draw many students from various parts
of America & the West Indies & at least furnish them
with a better Idea of the Rudiments of their Profession than
they have at present the Means of acquiring on your Side of
the Water.
Should the Managers of the Hospital think proper I could wish
that if the Drawings & Casts I shall send P. the next Convoy
come safe that they might be lodged in some low Apartment of
the Hospital not to be seen by every Person but with the Permission
of a Trustee & for some small Gratuity for the Benefitt
of the House. The Drawings are in Crayons & should therefore
not be kept in too dry a place nor shaked about too much."
From the Minutes of the Managers Meeting, November 9, 1762:
(The managers) Open'd three Cases containing Eighteen different
curious Views of various parts of the Human Body in Crayons
framed and glaized; three Cases of Anatomical Castings & one
Case containing a Skeleton & Foetus...
if any Professor of Anatomy is desirous to exhibit Lectures
he is to apply to them for Liberty.
All such Pupils as attend the said Lectures intended to be
exhibited by Dr. Shippen or any other Person should pay a Pistole
each.
And such Persons who from Curiosity may apply to view the
said Paintings &c. should pay a Dollar each except the
Managers and Physicians of the House. Which Gratuities shall
be applied to the use of the Hospital.
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