Biographical Notice of Dr. Bruce. 301 
suasion'and remonstrances of his friends proved alike ineffee- 
tual; and he soon gave free scope to the prevailing inclination. 
The collection and examination of minerals, a pursuit not 
then at all attended to in this country, was his particular relief 
from other studies; for even during his recreation, he was ever 
on the look-out for something new or instructing in mineralogy. 
Dr. Romayne being about visiting Europe, young Bruce pur- 
sued his studies with Samuel Bard,.M. D.; and having attended 
the usual courses in Columbia College, he left the United States 
for Europe in 1798, and in 1800 he obtained the degree of doc- 
tor in medicine from the university of Edinburgh, after defending 
a Thesis, De Variola Vaccina. 
_ Having now finished his medical studies, he was prepared to 
visit the continent of Europe with peculiar advantage ; for’ his 
continued. attachment to mineralogy, a liberal distribution of 
American specimens then comparatively new in Europe, and 
his social habits and dispositions, which were very conciliating, 
- secured him the best introductions from Edinburgh, and laid 
the foundation of permanent friendships. 
During a tour of two years, he visited France, Switzerland, . 
and Italy ; and collected a mineralogical cabinet of great value 
and extent. After his. return: to England, be married in Lon- 
rk in the autumn of 1803, to en- 
ter.on the avrediees of pth ioner of medicine. 
Previous to the tice of physic in the state 
ear 1805, the pract 
of New-York was regulated ‘by no public authority, and of 
Course was not in the happiest condition to promote the re- 
peels ‘and usefulness of the profession. To remove, as 
aras possible, the existing inconveniences, Dr. Bruce became 
8 active agent, and in conjunction with Dr. Romayne and oth- 
€f medical. gentlemen of New-York, succeeded in establishing 
the state and county medical societies, under the sanction of ~ 
the State legislature. This act “may bé considered among the 
first efforts made in this country to reduce medicine to a regu- ‘ 
lar Science, by investing the preg of medical, men in the 
of the members of the profession.” 
In the organization of the College of Physicians and Sur- 
eons of the state of New-York, Dr. Bruce and Dr. Romayne 
