Medical Inquiries and Observations, Vol. 1 The Second Edition, Revised and Enlarged by the Author

"Medical Inquiries and Observations, Vol. 1" by Benjamin Rush is a comprehensive scientific publication written in the early 19th century. This work delves into various topics surrounding medicine, including observations on diseases and treatments based on medical practices of Rush's time, as well as a comparative analysis of Indigenous American medical practices against those of civilized nations. The opening of the volume introduces the author’s preface and sets the tone for the content to follow, highlighting the author's intent to provide an updated and revised account of his medical inquiries. Rush discusses the challenges of understanding the natural history of medicine, particularly concerning the Indian tribes of North America, and outlines the cultural customs influencing health in both Indigenous and European contexts. He emphasizes the need for further inquiry into the origins of diseases and remedies, establishing a framework for the subsequent sections of the book, which detail specific diseases, the influences of climate on health, and observations of practices in medicine. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Dr. Benjamin Rush was an American revolutionary, a Founding Father of the United States and signatory to the U.S. Declaration of Independence, and a civic leader in Philadelphia, where he was a physician, politician, social reformer, humanitarian, educator, and the founder of Dickinson College. Rush was a Pennsylvania delegate to the Continental Congress. He later described his efforts in support of the American Revolution, saying: "He aimed right." He served as surgeon general of the Continental Army and became a professor of chemistry, medical theory, and clinical practice at the University of Pennsylvania.