Nations lately become Literary. 395 



the United States, Professor Barton, of Phila- 

 delphia, undoubtedly holds the first rank. His 

 various works evince a closeness of observation, 

 an accuracy of inquiry, an extent of learning, and 

 a vigour and comprehensiveness of mind, which 

 are equally honourable to their possessor, and to 

 his country. Should his life and health be spared, 

 he bids fair to attain a place among the most ac- 

 complished scientific naturalists of the nineteenth 

 century. 



In the science of Medicine, our country has pre- 

 sented specimens of learning and talents of the 

 most honourable kind. It may be questioned 

 whether this science is cultivated more zealously 

 or more successfully in any part of the world than 

 in America; or whether any Medical School in 

 Europe furnishes, on the whole, greater advantages 

 to the student than that of Philadelphia/" The 

 spring which was given to the study of medicine 

 within the last ten years of the eighteenth century, 

 in the United States, deserves to be noticed as very- 

 remarkable. This was effected, not only by the 

 writings of several distinguished American Physi- 

 cians, among whom Dr. Rush holds the first place, 

 and to whom Medical Science on this side of the 

 Atlantic owes a large debt of gratitude; but also, 

 and perhaps more especially, by the unprecedented 

 frequency with which our country has been visited, 

 during this time, by pestilential diseases, which 

 have roused the attention and called forth the ta- 

 lents of our Physicians, and led to investigations, to 



vi It is not contended, that the advantages to be enjoyed in the medical 

 school at Philadelphia are equal to those furnished by the clinical lec- 

 tures and practice, in the numerous and large Hospitals of London, and 

 the still more numerous courses of Lectures, delivered by private instruc- 

 tors in that city. It is only meant to be asserted, that no regular medical 

 school, connected with any University of Europe, offers to the student 

 better means of medical instruction than those which may be enjoyed in 

 Philadelphia. 



yOL. II, 3E 



