Autographs
Dr. Benjamin Rush Philadelphia Physician & Declaration of Independence Signer Letter Mentions Dr. Benjamin Church
BENJAMIN RUSH (1745-1813), Signer of the Declaration of Independence, Surgeon General of the Continental Army; President of the American Society for the Abolition of Slavery; President of the Philadelphia Medical Society, Treasurer of the United States Mint, Founder of Dickinson College, Known as "The Father of American Psychiatry," etc.
January 7th, 1805-Dated Federal Period, Rare Autograph Statement Letter Signed, “Benj:n Rush,” 1 page, measures 9.5” x 7.75” plus Integral Docket, Choice Very Fine. The Docket (in another hand) reads: “Jan. 7,1805 - Doctor Rush’s Certification - in Behalf of Ephraim Kirsh.” It is very attractive being boldly written in deep rich brown ink upon clean, light evenly toned proper period paper. This Letter is completely penned by Benjamin Rush’s own hand and is accompanied by a Lithograph of Rush with his facsimile signature printed below, measuring 5” x 7” with both items matted together for display to an overall size of 20.5” x 12.75”. Here, Rush writes his statement, in full:

“I do hereby certify that Capt. Ephraim Kirsh (a Mariner belonging to the port of Philad:a) lodged from about the middle of June at Capt. Frankford’s until he went to the hospital on the 24th of December 1804, with the interval of four or five weeks, which time Captain Kirts (sic) spent at Harrowgate by advice of Dr. Church & myself. While at Capt. Frankford’s he was treated and nursed tenderly, and subjected the family to several extra expenses not commonly incurred for sick people. -- (Signed) Benj:n Rush”. Dated is Noted: “January 7th: 1805”
DR. BENJAMIN RUSH (1745-1813), known as the "Father of American Psychiatry," was the first to believe that mental illness is a disease of the mind and not a "possession of demons." His classic work, Observations and Inquiries upon the Diseases of the Mind, published in 1812, was the first psychiatric textbook printed in the United States. Rush served on the Pennsylvania Hospital medical staff from 1783 until the time of his death in 1813.

Rush graduated from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland in 1766. In 1768, he went to London and Paris and returned to Philadelphia in 1769 and at once established himself in the practice of medicine. He also served as Resident Port-Physician, Fleet Surgeon of the Pennsylvania Navy and was appointed Physician General of the Military Hospital of the Middle Department, American Army, 1777. He served as the President of the American Society for the Abolition of Slavery; President of the Philadelphia Medical Society, and was a Fellow of the College of Physicians.

He was elected to the Chair of Institutes, Medical and Clinical Practice of the University of Pennsylvania in 1791 where he is known to have told his students: "Attend the poor, they are your best patients, God is their paymaster."

Tranquilizing Chair:

Dr. Benjamin Rush designed two mechanical contrivances to aid in the treatment of the insane. The belief at the time was that "madness" was an arterial disease, an inflammation of the brain. He created the "tranquilizing chair" in which patients were confined. The chair was supposed to control the flow of blood toward the brain and, by lessening muscular action or reducing motor activity, reduced the force and frequency of the pulse. Both of Rush's devices were supposed to exert an influence in some way to circulation, which was believed to be essential to the successful treatment of the insane. In actuality, they did neither harm nor good.

Rush also believed strongly in bleeding and purging patients to cure diseases. This belief caused a schism in the local medical community during the Yellow Fever outbreaks. Dr. Philip Syng Physick supported Rush's belief and when both contracted yellow fever during the epidemic of 1793, Rush bled himself and his friend. Both men recovered, though we know today that the bleeding played no part in their survival.