SOURCE: “Benjamin Rush from the Perspective of the Twentieth Century,” in Medicine in America: Historical Essays, Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins Press, 1966, pp. 233-51.

In the following essay, which was originally published in 1946, Shryock points out the lack of empirical data in Benjamin Rush's work, but praises him for his philosophical interests.

It has recently been observed that “One often hears and sees Rush's name mentioned, but in a few tiresomely repeated connections; as a man and as a writer he is little known.”¹ This is doubtless true so far as the general public is concerned: in contrast to his friends John Adams and Jefferson, Rush has been largely forgotten even by the well-informed. This may be explained, in some measure, by the political emphasis which characterized American historical writing until recent decades. Despite some interesting adventures in public office, Rush was never a major political figure; hence he...