Lives Of Eminent American Physicians And Surgeons Of The Nineteenth Century

by Samuel D. Gross

The book ""Lives of Eminent American Physicians and Surgeons of the Nineteenth Century"" is a biographical work written by Samuel D. Gross. It is a comprehensive collection of the lives of some of the most significant physicians and surgeons in America during the 19th century. The book is divided into several chapters, each of which focuses on a particular physician or surgeon.The book begins with an introduction that provides an overview of the medical profession during the 19th century. It discusses the various challenges and advancements that occurred during this time, including the development of new surgical techniques and the establishment of medical schools.The subsequent chapters provide detailed biographies of some of the most notable physicians and surgeons of the time. These include William Beaumont, who conducted groundbreaking research on the digestive system; Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman to receive a medical degree in the United States; and Benjamin Rush, who played a significant role in the early years of the American Medical Association.Each chapter provides a detailed account of the life and work of the featured physician or surgeon, including their contributions to the medical field and their impact on society. The book also includes illustrations and photographs of some of the individuals featured in the biographies.Overall, ""Lives of Eminent American Physicians and Surgeons of the Nineteenth Century"" is an informative and engaging read for anyone interested in the history of medicine in America. It provides a fascinating glimpse into the lives of some of the most influential figures in the field and their contributions to the advancement of medical science.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

828 pages, Paperback

First published April 10, 2007

About the author

Samuel David Gross (July 8, 1805 – May 6, 1884) was an American academic trauma surgeon. Surgeon biographer Isaac Minis Hays called Gross "The Nestor of American Surgery." He is immortalized in Thomas Eakins' The Gross Clinic, (1875), a prominent American painting of the nineteenth century. A bronze statue of him was cast by Alexander Stirling Calder and erected on the National Mall, but moved in 1970 to Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.

Born on a farm near Easton, Pennsylvania, Gross developed an interest in plants, trees, and flowers. He grew up speaking Pennsylvania Dutch, a dialect of German, and supposedly resolved to be a doctor when he was only five years old. At the age of 17 he was apprenticed to a local physician, then another, but both of these experiences soon proved unsatisfactory. He then started to work under the tutelage of Dr. Joseph K. Swift, a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. Swift realized quickly that Gross' rudimentary education was insufficient training for work as a doctor. Gross then returned to preparatory school, first attending Wilkes-Barre Academy. He went on to another school in the Bowery in New York (where he received a background in classical studies) and Lawrenceville School in New Jersey.

At 19, Gross returned to Swift's office, where he learned mineralogy, anatomy, surgery, Meteria Medica, therapeutics, physiology, obstetrics, and French. He also received a fair amount of clinical experience with Swift's patients. After a year of training under Swift, he took a six-week vacation due to ill health. Swift advised him to attend the University of Pennsylvania for further training, but Gross opted for the newly founded Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, as he greatly admired the founder of the school, Professor of Surgery Dr. George McClellan, and his colleague, Dr. John Eberle, Professor of Medicine. Gross entered Jefferson in the fall of 1826 and graduated in 1828 in a class of 27 students.

Gross died on May 6, 1884 at age 78, in Philadelphia. He was cremated at Le Moyne Crematory and his ashes were buried in The Woodlands Cemetery.[1] Gross' estate, aside from a few bequests, was divided equally among his four children. His library, consisting of more than 5,000 volumes, was willed to the Philadelphia Academy of Surgery, along with his wet preparations, diagrams, and museum. To the same institution he left $5,000; interest on this sum is awarded every five years to the best essay on surgical pathology.