s 
NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE
             Washington
Founded 1836
U. S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare
             Public Health Sertice 
 
 
■1m l
&rport and 0Ltitirt00>
DELIVERED BY THE
       PRESIDENT,
TO THE MEDICA^f SOCIETY OF THE COUNTY
 OF NEW-YORK;
TOGETHER WITH THE

Charter
            OF THE

COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS & SURGEONS

            IN THE

       CITY OF NEW-YORK.
PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE SOCIETY.
NEW-YORK:    / $l'^?>
PRINTED BY JAMES CHEETHAM. |
^  ^
 
  At a meeting of the Medical Society of the coun-
ty of New-York, held at the City-Hall, on Monday,
March 23d 1807, it was
  Resolved, that a committee be appointed to cause
to be printed jive hundred copies of the
  Report and Address, delivered by the President,
to this  Society, together with, the  Charter of the
College of Physicians and Surgeons;
  Whereupon,
  Dr.  RODGERS,
  Dr.  GILLESPIE,
  Dr.  BIRCH,
  Dr.  SEAMAN,  and
  Dr.  BRUCE,
  Were appointed a committee for  that purpose.
           Extract from the Minutes.
                ARCHIBALD BRUCE,
                                   Secretary. 
REPORT  AND ADDRESS.
 Gentlemen,

     HAVING been  honoured by  this fociety with their
 commiflion as delegate to the Medical Society of the ftate,
 and alfo  with other mark* of  their confideration, I muft
 now beg your indulgent attention to my official report, and
 to an explanation of my official conduct.

   On my arrival  in the city of Albany, I was informed by
 the prefident of the  Medical Society of the ftate,  that the
 society  had bien  duly organized—twenty-two  delegates
 had attended—certain bye-laws had been enacted. The foci-
 ety had agreed to prefent a  petition to the legiilature, to pafs
 an  act to divide the members of the Medical Society of the
 ftate into claffes,  and to make fome provifion for the fup-
port of the fociety.   They had examined and  licensed  one
 or more candidates to practife phyfic and furgery, and had
adjourned to meet on the iirft Tuefday in February next.
A copy of the bye-law's of the Medical Society of the ftate
has been delivered to the fecretary for the u(e of this fociety. 
4
  The  members of the legiilature, as well as the medical
gentlemen whom I had the pleafure to meet in Albany, were
informed by me of the grateful fentiments which my me-
dical brethren of the county of New-York would  always en-
tertain towards  the honourable the legiflature of the ftate,
and  efpecially  thofe  enlightened  men by  whofe  atten-
tion to the public good,  and the intereft and honour of the
profeffion,  the  act  had been obtained for  incorporating
medical focieties for  the purpofe of  regulating the prac-
tice  of  phyfic  and furgery  in this ftate—they confidered
that  act of the  legiflature  as among the  firft efforts made
in this  country  to reduce medicine to a regular fcience,
by  invefting the privileges of  medical men, in the body
of the  members  of  the profeffion-—that  the eftablifh-
ment of the College  of  Phyficians  in  London  during
the reign  of Henry the Eighth, was the  firft  act which
raifed the  reputation of the medical profeffion in Britain,
Uy  taking  the  government  of  that profeffion out of the
hands of colleges and of the clergy, who, in lefs enlightened
times, had been invefted with the  fame.   In like manner
the Medical  Society of the county of New-York, cherifh-
ed the hope  that by an union with the other medical foci-
eties of  the ftate, and  a prefervation of the rights gran-
ted them  by the legiflature, the medical profeffion would
be improved, and its  members  might, by their ufefulnefs,
gain the refpect  and efteern of their fellow-citizens. 
5
  It was further Mater1 that my medical brethren of the coun-
ty of New-York did not  fuppofe  they could exprefs their
gratita le to the honourable the legiflature of the country in a
more dignified and generous manner than by a liberal and
juft exercife of  the powers with w! ich they were invefted
by law.—That they received, as members of the fociety, all
Phyficians and Surgeons refident in the  county  of New-
York, and authonfed by the former laws to exercife their
feveral profefllons—that  they had  appointed  a  refpedable
committee  to confer with  truftees of colleges refpeding
the beft means  of promoting medical education—that the
members of the fociety had been divided into clafses to pro-
mote in a fpecial manner certain fpecific  parts  of medical
fcience—they  had  examined  and  licenfed  three  candi-
dates to pradife phyfie  and furgery, and now  wifhed  to
continue fecure  in  the exclufive rights  and privileges with
which they were invefted at the time of their incorporation :
and that they might promote and cherifh the fcience  of me-
dicine under  the patronage of the  ftate,  to  fee thofe duly
educated in a knowledge of the healing art, who  in the
courfe of nature, might be deftined to fupply their  places

  The liberal conduct of this fociety fince its incorporation
and  the laudable   and  virtuous   views entertained  by
the  members,   could  not  be  expreffed  without  exci-
ting emotions in the minds  of generous and enlightened
men, and I have juft reafons to fuppofe that had I prefent-
ed the memorial  to the honourable the legiflature, for incor- 
a
porating this fociety into a college of Phyficians and Sur-
geons, it would have been attended with fuccefs—It is how-
ever with fincere regret I have to inform you that I could not
prefent the memorial without exciting thofe unpleafant reflec-
tions and remarks w'hich are commonly manifefted by the
public in all the disputes of profeflional men,  which I wi(h-
ed ferioufly  to avoid, and would only fubmit to under im-
perious circumftances—many of my fellow members can be
no ftrangers to the fituation in which I  have been placed : I
Ihall truft to their generofity for a juft  appreciation  of the
motives by which I have  been  aduated—the fociety's me-
morial is returned to the fecretary.*

  The memorial to the honourable the legiflature on the part
of this fociety and others, for the ufe of the government
houfe, was received by me when at Albany;  a previous ap-
plication, however, had been made by the city corporation for
the purchafe of that houfe, and the circumjacent ground, and
which was favorably reported on by a committee of the legif-
flature. I did not therefore think proper to prefent the mem-
orial, and I hope ray condud will be approved by this fociety,
efpecially when they refled on  the kind  attention of  that
corporation to this inftitution  fince  its firft eftabhfhment—
that memorial is alfo placed in the hands of the Secretary.

* Certain practitioners of Phyfic, refiding in the city of New-York, fy-nrd
a  memorinl to  the legislature, againft cfUblifhing in the city of New-York
a College of Pnylicuns and Surgeons. 
7
  Hefitating, therefore, to prefent to the honourable the
legiflature the memorials, from  the  caufes  I have men-
tioned,  *nd conceiving  a new inftitution as a College of
Phyficians and Surgeons,  diftinct from this fociety, might
be equally agreeable to my fellow-members,  I was indu-
ced to apply by  memorial to the chancellor and regents of
the Univerfity for that purpofe, prefenting at the fame time,
your memorial to that honourable board.

  On the fecond of March I was invited to a meeting of a
board of the regents of the Univerfity, to explain to them
the objects contemplated by this fociety in the inftitution of
a College of  Phyficians and Surgeons, when I ftated, as
well as I was able, the advantages which would be derived
by the public, as well as profeffional  men, from fuch an
eftablifhment. The memorials were afterwards referred to
a committee to  examine and report on the expediency  of
granting the fame ; and I had the honour to attend the com-
mittee of the regents on the fubject of their inveftigation,
when I gave them the fulleft information in my power on all
the fubjects of their enquiries. I ftated, in  a fpecial manner,
the advantages which the  Englifh nation had derived from
the eftablifhment of the College of Phyficians in London
—that  a member of that college (Dr. Harvey) had made
himfelf  immortal by  the  difcovery  of the circulation  of
the  blood—That  many others had  obtained  the higheft
confideration by their  ufcfulnef6 and  refpectability—That 
8
the members  of that college had contributed more than any
other community of men to give a polifh and refinement to
that nation; to diffufe a love of fcience and the ufeful arts
—That it was now the defire of this fociety to be alfo incor-
porated into  a  College of  Phyficians  and  Surgeons,  that
they might endeavour to be ufeful  to their country.

   I  may intrude on your attention by continuing  this re-
port.  The committee of the regents weighed  every  thing
that was faid  by me on the part of this fociety ; they equal-
ly attended to the remonftrance from  certain  members of
the fociety—they  confidered the rights and pretenfions of
the colleges of this ftate, and  I am confident  were ulti-
mately guided in their determination by their love  of fci-
ence and attention to the public good.

   The  committee of the regents, I was informed, were u-
nanimous in their report, and the regents  agreed without
one diffenting voice to grant a charter for eftablifhing a Col-
lege of Phyficians and Surgeons in this city.   The charter
was drawn as favourable to the profeffion as could be expec-
ted, and with due regard to the rights of every member of
this fociety.

   My  fellow-members of  this fociety may be congratula-
ted on this important  event,  which may form a new aera
in the annals of medicine—we have obtained for ourfelves 
9
and  our country, a ufeful academic inftitution—in it w<i
are united  with  thofe  valuable men,  who, without our
knowledge,  obtained  from the legiflature,  the  privileges
which  this  fociety  enjoys, by the act for its incorpora-
tion.

   It would have afforded me the  higheft fatisfaction had
my fellow-members of this fociety been as unanimous i» fa-
vour of eftabhfhing a College  of Phyficians and  Surgeons,
as the regents were in  granting the  fame. On thi> fubject I
have experienced a difference of opinion among profeflion-
al gentlemen, who have been  long eftablifhed in this city.

   I did humbly conceive  I was introduced into the chair
of this fociety by my fellow-members  to  fupport its rights
and privileges,  and  to perform, as well as  I was able, the
duties  of my office—I have in confidence done fo.   If in
doing my  duty I have given offence to any member, I fhall
feel  regret.  It is well known that the College of Phyfi-
cians in London, exact  and demand examinations from all
the graduates of the  Britifh Univerfities, before they will
licenfe them to practife.   The ftate has given us the  fame
powers—I fee no reafon we fhould relinquifh them; if the
legiflature has in the act incorporating  this  Society, (hewn
courtefy to ftrangers,  I hope my fellow-members will not
complain of the liberality which has  been  manifefted by
fuch high authority.
                        K 
10
  I have now to  inform you that the  Charter for efta-
bhfhing in this city a College of Phyficians and Surgeons, is
in the hands of the kaccury of this Society, and I pray Al-
mighty God that Inftitution may in its operation be ufeful
to this Nation, and be  handed down with honour to the la-
teft pofterity. 
     Charter
        01 THE
    COLLEGE  OF
PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS
        IN THE
   CITY OF NEW-YORK. 
I 
           CHARTER.


By  the  Regents  of  the  Universily of

         the State of New- York-

  WHEREAS the Medical Society of the county of New-
York have prefented unto us their Memorial,  under the fe.il
of the faid Society, teftified by Archibald Bruce, Secretary,
ftating that their efforts to contribute to the diffufion of fci-
ence,  and the improvement of the medical profeffion would
be more fuccefsful, if they were direded  under the patron-
age of the Regents of the Univerfity of this ftate, and  were
incorporated as a College of PiiyHcians and Surgeons, and
praying us to favor the views of the faid fociety,  fo iar as
they are  connected with the  public good, and with which
the improvement of the medical profeffion is intimately con-
nected, and that the faid fociety may be incorporated as a
College of Phyficians and Srurgeons, under our patronage.

  AND WHEREAS,  Nicholas Romayne, pre'.1 dent of the
faid Medical Society, of the faid County  of New-York, has
alfo prefented  unto us his memorial in writing, ftating th <t
the faid Medical Society is directed by law,  to examine ftu- 
14
 dents of medicine,  and to grant licences to fuch as are pro-
 perly qualified to practife phyfic or furgery, or both—That
 the faid Society are impreffed with the importance to the pub-
 lic, that a fyftem of medical education fhould be inftituted
 under their infpection, and praying us,  in behalf of the faid
 medical  fociety of the county of New-York, and of each
 and every member  thereof,  that all the members of the
 medical fociety  of the county of New-York, might be incor-
 porated by us, into a  College of Phyficians and Surgeons
 under our direction and patronage, with all fuch rights and
 privileges, as might conduce to  the promotion of medical
 knowledge, and the  public good.  AMD we having taken
 the faid memorials into our confideration, and being fatisfi-
 ed that a College of Phyficians and Surgeons eftablifhed in
 the city of New-Yoik, for the fole purpofe  of promoting
 medical fcience,  may be of public importance in diffufing
 the knowledge  of the healing art.

   BE IT THEREFORE ORDAINED BY US,  by vir-
 tue of the act entitled, " An act to enable the Regents of
 the Univerfity,  to eftablifh a College of Phyficians and Sur-
 geons within  this  ftate,"  paffed the 24-th day of March,
 1791, and we  do  by thefe prefents,  Ordain, Grant,
 and Declare, That  a  College  of Phyficians and Surgeons,
for the promotion of medical fcience, and diffufing the know ledge
 of the healing art, {hall be,  and is hereby eftabliflied in the
 city of New-York,  in  this ftate, and that Sir James Jay, 
15
 James  G. Graham, Alexander Sheldon, Samuel L. Mit-
 chiil,  William Livingfton, Ifaac Sargeant, Peter C. Adams,
 John Ely, Hugh Williamfon,  William McClelland, Will-
 iam Wheeler, Morris Willard, John Stearns, Philip Smith,
 Weftel Willoughb , Caleb Sampfon, Dunforth Shunway,
 Hugh  Henderfon,  Gurdon  Huntington,  James Moore,
 John H.  Frifbee, Barnabas  Smith,  Reuben Hart,  Jeffe
 Shepherd,  Thomas B. Whitmarfh,  David R. Arnell, Ly-
 man  Cook, John M. Mann,  James  Smith, Samuel Bard,
 Samuel Stringer,  Hunloke Woodruff, Jofeph White,  Ebe-
 nezar Sage, Richard Udall, John Smith, Charles D. Coop-
 er, Elias Willard, Jacob Outwater, Benjamin De Witt, A-
 braham Cornelifon, David Hafbrouck, Charles Mitchell,
 Felix Pafcalis, Samuel Torbet,  Jofhua E. R.  Birch, John
 Riddell, George Anthon,John I. Coventry, Gardner Jones,
 Philip Turner, Lewis Faugeres, Samuel Nefbit, John On-
 derdonk, William Moore, Nicholas Romayne,  James Til-
 lery,  Archibald Bruce, Valentine Seaman, David Hoffack,
 John  R.B. Rogers. Wright Poft, Edward Miller, William
 Hamcrfley, James S. Stringham, John  H. Douglafs, George
 W. Chapman, William James M'Niven, John D. Jaques,
 Malachi Foote, Andrew Morton, John D. Gillefpie, Alex-
 ander Hoffack, Philip D.  Kettletas, John  Clark,  Charles
 Buxton, Michael  Degray, Daniel B.  Cornelius, Joel Hart,
 Abraham Brower, John Wilfon, Eloy Berger,  Richard S.
 Ivlffam, Andrew  Hunt, Benjamin Prince, Beckman Van
Bcuren, John Hicks, Jofeph Blood good,  Matthew  Wen-
dell, Samuel Bradhurft, John Stone,  Baron A. De Caron- 
16
 deffez, George  D. Cluffman, Samuel  Ofburn, Benjamin
 Low,  Joihua Secor,  Benjamin Rockwell, Shadrack Rick-
 etfon,  George C.  Quackenbos, Robert  Thorn, Abraham
 Lozier, and all others who are now members of the Medi-
 cal fociety of the county of New-York, and  all phyficians
 and furgeous now refident in the county of New-York, and
 authorifed  by  law to practife in  their feveral profeffions,
 fhall be the prefent truftees or members of the faid college,
 and that the faid truftees or members and their fucceffors,
 fhall be a body corporate and politic in fact,  and in  name,
 by the name of «  THE COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS
 AND SURGEONS  IN THE CITY OF NEW-YORK,"
and fhall have perpetual fucceflion, and  by that name fhall
be in law capable to fue and be fued, to plead and be  im-
pleaded, to anfwer and be anfwered unto, to defend and be
defended in all courts  and places,  and  in all  matters and
caufes whatfoever,  and to purchafe, take, hold,  enjoy and
have, lands, meffuages, tenements, hereditaments, and real
eftate, in fee fimple, or for term of years, or lives, or  in any
other manner whatfoever, and alfo goods, chatties, books,
monies, and all other things, of what nature foever ; Pro-
vided always, that  fuch eftate, as well  real as perfonal,
which the faid college  is hereby authorifed to hold, fhall
not exceed  the fum of one hundred and  fifty thoufand dol-
lars, current money of this ftate, and that the truftees  or
members of faid college, fhall and may have a Common
Seal, and may alter and renew the fame at their pleafure. 
17
   And it is hereby further ordained, granted,  and declared.
 That the truftees or members of the college of phyficians and
 furgeons hereby eftabliflied, fhall and may meet together on
 the  firft Tuefday in May next, at twelve o'clock of that day,
 in the City-Hall of the city of New-York, or at fuch other
»hour and place as may be directed by the Chancellor of the
 Univerfity, and fhall then elect by ballot, a Prefident, Vice-
 Prefident, Regifter, Treafurer, and thirteen Cenfors, who
 fhall hold their refpective offices for one year, and  until o-
 thers fhall be chofen in their places,  and the firft Tuefday
 in May fhall be forever  after the day for the anniverfary
 meeting, of faid college of phyficians and furgeons, and on
 which day the  prefident and other officers before enumera-
 ted, fhall be elected  as aforefaid, and their quarterly meet-
 ings fhall be on the firft Tuefday in Auguft, November and
 February in every year, and that en the days of their anni-
 verfary meeting, and at their quarterly meetings, but at no
 other  time,  they  the faid truftees or members, may enact
 fuch bye-laws,  rules and regulations, relative to the affairs,
 concerns, and property of faid Co lege, and  relative to the
 dutiesof their Prefident, Vice prefident, Regifter, Treafurer,
 Cenfors, and other members,  as they or a majority of the
 members of fuch  annual cr quarterly  meetings  may think
 fit and proper •,  Provided fuch  bye-laws, rules, and  regula-
 tions,  be not contrary to, or inconfiftent with the conftitu-
 tions and laws of this State, or the United States, or the Or-
 dinances made  by  us or our fucceffors, Regents of the Uni-
                           c 
18
verfity of this ftate.   And the Regifter of the faid College,
fhall provide a took, in which he fhall make an entry of all
the refolutions and proceedings which may be  had from
time to time, and alfo the annual reports relative to the ftate
of the treafury, and all fuch other things as a majority of
the members of the college fhall think proper, to which any
member  of the college  may at any time have recourfe, and
the fame together with all books, papers, and records, which
may be in the hands of  the Regifter, and be the property of
the college, fhall  be delivered to his fucceffor in office.
And the  treafurer of the faid college  fhall  receive and be
accountable for  all  monies which  fhall  come  into  his
hands, and fhall pay the fame in fuch manner as may be di-
rected by a majority of the members of faid  college  conven-
ed at the anniverfary or quarterly meetings, and by a war-
rant for that purpofe, figned by the  prefident or vice-prefi-
dent.

  And it is hereby further ordained and declared, That in cafe
it fhould at any time happen, that an election of the faid of-
ficers, fhould not be made on the day when purfuant to this
ordinance, it ought to have been done, the faid corporation
fhall not for that caufe be deemed to be diffolved, but it fhall
be lawful on any other day within three months thereafter to
hold and make an election for the faid officers, in fuch man-
ner as fhall have been regulated by the bye-laws of the faid
eorporation. 
19
   And it is hereby further ordained, granted and declared by us,
That the faid college of phyficians and fur6eons, fhall, as far
as they are able, at all times provide fuitable ap  rtments for
all fuch profeflbrs as  fhall hereafter  be nominated and ap-
pointed by us in and for faid college, and which profeflbrs
fliall have the ftile and title of « Profeflbrs of the Univerfi-
ty of the ftate of New-York, for the college of Phyficians
and Surgeons,"  and  that  all the  members of  faid college
fliall be  privileged  from  time to time  and at  all tim.s to
attend, infped, and notice, all ledures  or other mode of
teaching by the profeflbrs  in  faid  college appointed  by us,
and that in cafe  of death or resignation of any  profeffor or
other vacancy in faid  college, a majority of the truftees or
memb.rs of faid college at any of their meetings  may ap-
point leduters in any branch cf medicine or of  the fciences
conneded  therewith, until fuch time as our  pleafure be
known refpeding the fame, or  profeflbrs be  appointed by
us_,uid that it fhall and may be lawful at all times for them
the faid truftees or members to appoint ledurers in faid col-
lege in any b-anch  of fcience for themfelves and for their
own inftrudion.

   And it  is  hereby further ordained, granted and declared,
That  the Prefident,  Vice  Prefident,  Cenfors  and all
others,  the truftees or members of faid college, fhall  carry
and put into full effed all  our  ordinances refpeding the
faid college  as well with refped to  education as  all other 
20
matters and things, and fhall  pay due attention towards ef-
tablifhing and preferving for the said college an Anatomical
mufeum and Chemical elaboratory and Botanic Garden, and
fhall make an annual  report to us in writing, or to the Chan-
cellor of the Univerfity in the monthof January inevery year,
refpeding the funds and property of the faid college and all
matters and things relative to faid College, and the ftudents
and profeflbrs thereof.

   And it is further  ordained,  granted and declared,  That
twenty-one truftees  or members of the  faid college may
form a board to do bufinefs at any of the anniverfary, quar-
terly or extraordinary  meetings ; and that the Prefident or
in his abfence the Vice-Prefident of faid college fhall  ap-
point and dired  a fpecial or extraordinary meeting to be
called of the truftees  or members of  faid college at any time
or place he may think proper, provided application be made
to him in writing for that purpofe, figned by thirteen truf-
tees or members, and the faid  meeting be previoufly adver-
tifed for fix days in  two of the newfpapers  printed in the
city of new-York, and that at  all meetings of  the  college
in the abfence of the Prefident or Vice Prefident, the fenior
Cenfor on the lift of the College, then prefent fhall prefide,
and that the truftees or members of Lid College may at  any
of their anniverfary, quarterly or  extraordinary meetings
 adjourn from day to day.

   And it is further ordained,  granted  and declared, That the 
21
Prefident, Vice Prefident, Truftees or Members of faid col-
lege may at any time and at all times  recommend to us any
perfon refiding  in the  county of New-York, and lawfully
authorifed to pradife phyfic and furgery, or any  phyfician
or furgeon or perfon eminent for learning and talents  to be
a truftee or member of faid Collega of Physicians and Sur-
geons, and any Phyfician and Surgeon refident for two years
in the county of New-York, being of good moral charader
and authorifed by law to pradife in his profeffion, may ap-
ply to us to be nominated and appointed a truftee or member
of faid college, and that the faid college may direcl that the
prefident* of the faid college grant appropriate diplomas un-
der the hand of the Prefident and feal of faid  College  tefti-
fied by the regifter, certifying the name  of every fuch truf-
tee or member of the College.

   And be  it further ordained and declared, That referving to
ourfelves and our fucceflbrs Regents of the Univerfity of this
State all powers to appoint profeflbrs in faid College, and alfo
all powers to appoint and difphce any truftee or member of
faid college, now nominated and  appointed by this charter,
or hereafter to be appointed by us or our fuccflbrs, and  al-
fo referving  all powers  to confer degrees on any member or
truftee or ftudent  of  faid  college, which in our opinion
and in the opinion of  the prefident and  other truftees and
members of faid College, may be worthy of any literary mark
of diftindion, in fuch manner as  may be direded by us, and 
2*
alfo referving: to ourfelves and our fucceffors the right of ap-
pointing Fellows and honorary members  for faid  college,
and alfo of making fuch further grants or Ordinances, as we
and our fucceffors may find neceffary and  ufeful for  faid
College, and alfo  referving  to  ourfelves and our fucceffors
the right to alter and modify this Ordinance, eftabliftiing the
faid College, whenever we or our fucceffors fhall deem it ne-
eeilary or expedient.

   We do finally ordain, grant and declare, That the faid truf-
tees and members of the College af Phyficians and Surgeons,
in the City of New-Tork, and  their fucceffors forever,  fhall
enjoy all the  corporate  Rights  Privileges and Immunites
which are hereby granted.

In  teflimony whereof we have cattfed our common feal to be affixed
            to thefe prejents, the twelfth day of March in the
            thirty-firfl year of the  Independence of the United
            States, and of our Lord, one thoufand eight hundred
             andfeven.
                    [L.S.A.]  MORGAN LEWIS.
   Sly command of the Chancellor,
      FR.  BLOODGOOD, Secretary. 
 
 
 
 
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