Biographical Notice of Dr. Bruce. 301 



suasion and remonstrances of his friends proved alike ineffec- 

 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 waa ever 

 on the look-out for something new or instructing in mineralogj'. 



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 doctor 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, he married in Lon- 

 don, and came out to New-York in the autumn of 1803, to en- 

 ter on the active duties of a practitioner of medicine. 



Previous to the year 1805, the practice of physic in the state 

 of New- York was regulated by no public authority, and of 

 course was not in the happiest condition to promote the re- 

 spectability and usefulness of the profession. To remove, as 

 far as possible, the existing inconveniences, Dr. Bruce became 

 an active agent, and in conjunction with Dr. Romayne and 

 other medical gentlemen of New-York, succeeded in establish- 

 ing the state and county medical societies, under the sanction 

 of the state legislature. This act "may be considered among 

 the first efforts made in this country to reduce medicine to a 

 regular science, by investing the privileges of medical men in 

 the body of the members of the profession." 



In the organization of the College of Physicians and Sur- 

 geons of the state of New- York, Dr. Bruce and Dr. Romaynf 



