i"M$& c^Bs Pf??vE IP 2* -.<&) ^^IIBI M^M 8«;vY je ^i'iafiiffl Hffif' '. X NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE Washington Founded 1836 U. S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare Public Health Serrice £/* The following Papfffi, stated to heme been mislaid, having been returned, on tj/e\3th of August, by the Rev. Dr. Wil- son, in whose possession they were, they are now printed in confirmation of Dr. Cooper's claims as a Physician. Carlisle, 29th Sept. 1815. Thomas Cooper, Esq^. Dear Sir, The trustees of Dickenson College extremely regret that you have formed the resolution to resign your Professorship. Could the funds of the College in any degree have justified the trustees in making such addition to your compensation as your services demanded, it would have been cheerfully clone. We are satisfied that your personal reputation and your very able and faithful discharge of the duties of your appointment, acquired to the College solid reputation, and greatly added to its means of usefulness. In taking leave of you, Sir, we can- not withhold the unasked, but just acknowledgment of the great and important benefits the institution has received from you, and the declaration that all your conduct, either as a pro- fessor or as a gentleman, has been such as in every respect to meet our warmest approbation. We know that the institution, in losing your services, loses much; nor do we expect that the vacancy created by your resignation, can be filled with equal talents. We pray you to accept our best wishes for your happiness and prosperity; and the assurance of our deep regret, that the state of the College at present, forbids our making any offer that would enable you to remain with us. With all sentiments of attachment and respect, We are, dear Sir, Very affectionately yours, John Armstrong, M. D. President. fames Gustine, M. D. H. H. Brackenridge, of the Sup. Court. James Hamilton, Prest. Judge 9th Dist. Jonathan Walker, do. 4th Dist. Thomas Duncan, Daniel Watts, Robert Blaine, Andrew Crothers, Edw. J. Stiles, Rev. John Campbell. Philadelphia, May 9th, 1803. Thomas Cooper, Esq^. Dear Sir,—Mr. Talman's sudden departure gives me but a moment to inform you, that in compliance with my ad- vice, he put himself under the care of Dr. Physick, by whom a radical cure I hope has been performed of his disease. I conceived this step to be warranted by Dr. Physick's singu- lar skill and process in the cure of Hydrocele, by the new mode of injection, and by the occasional failures in the use of that remedy by persons not accustomed to it. I wish you an able successor to Dr. Young, in your village. Dr. Lathy has been regularly educated in surgery, but I am not sure that he is acquainted with the new modes of practice which are called for by the climate, diet, and manners of our country; Your advice to him, with the aid of a few books, particularly the Medical Repository of New York, will, I hope, supply his want of an American education in medicine. With my most respectful and affectionate regards to Dr. Priestley and his family, I am, Dear Sir, yours truly, BENJAMIN RUSH. Carlisle, November 27th, 1815. Mr. John Vaughan, Merchant, Philadelphia. Sir,—Judge Cooper has requested me to draw up a tes- timonial in his favour, such as I supposed his medical abilities entitled him to, I have accordingly done so, and inclosed it to you, agreeable to his request. I am, Sir, very respectfully, Your obdt. humble servant, JAMES ARMSTRONG, M.U. i mi i—rtnrm—tt~"T1' ^ 3 The subscribers (Physicians in the town of Carlisle) hav- ing been intimately acquainted with Judge Cooper for more than three years, and, during that time, a variety of difficult and dangerous cases having occurred in their practice, in which the medical aid of Judge Cooper had been requested, and as cheerfully given by him, they conceive they have had a fair opportunity to form a judgment of the merit of the me- dical character of this gentleman. In justice therefore to him, they must declare that they think him an able Physician,— that he is well versed in both the theory and practice of medi- cine—and that, had Judge Cooper devoted himself to medical science alone, he would at this day have ranked among the first Physicians. We can further state, that owing to the high opinion which the Physicians and inhabitants of the town of Northumber- land (where Judge Cooper resided many years) entertained of his medical talents, he was usually consulted on all difficult cases, and had an opportunity at that place as well as at Car- lisle, of rendering essential services to his fellow citizens. JAMES ARMSTRONG, M. D. WM. C. CHAMBERS, M. D. JAMES GUSTINE, M. D. Carlisle, November 24th, 1815. John Vaughan, Esq. Merchant, Philadelphia. Dear Sir,—Mr. Thomas Cooper writes to me of Novem- ber 23d, 1815, from his present residence in Adams County, that he understands that a vacancy is likely to take place in the Chemical Chair at Philadelphia, owing to changes that may take place in consequence of Dr. Barton's illness, that he understands himself to be spoken of amongst others, but that an objection to him, is, that he is not a Physician. I had no idea that any question could be made as to his general know- 4 ledge of physic as a science, nor indeed as to his knowledge on all medical subjects. I know of my own knowledge that so early as 1800, whilst he was a practising lawyer at Sun- bury, I had heard him spoken of in that country as being- greater as a physician, than as a lawyer, and being consulted in difficult cases. I know also, that when called upon to the Chemical Chair in Dickinson College, it was an objection that he might practice physic in the village, which would interfere with physicians already settled, three of whom were of the board. Conversing with him at Northumberland relative to the professorship, I suggested this difficulty, and he assured me that he had no idea of taking fees, but might give advice, and that only when called upon by one or other of the faculty themselves. To this declaration I have known him constantly to adhere with great delicacy. I have moreover, on my own knowledge, known him to be called in on a great variety of such occasions, and in the case of the students of the College universally; abundantly also in the village, where he has had the reputation of being great in the discernment of occult dis- eases. I have this from patients and from the faculty them- selves : I was not fully persuaded of it, I mean as to practical knowledge, until a late case, where I do know the faculty of this village were at fault, if I may so express it, but on stating the case to Mr. Cooper, he was at no loss as to the cause or the remedy. His judgment was good. He had hit the truth. It was in die case of a female complaint, the discernment of which was exquisite. The loss of Mr. Cooper as a physician of great judgment, I know to be much regretted in this place, and / regret it. I am persuaded if he could reconcile himself to the practice of physic, and were it not that it would inter- fere with the faculty here, he would have no need of talking of going to New Orleans. His Chemical Chair at the Col- lege, and prescriptions in the village, would be sufficient. Your most obd't. humble serv't. H. H. BRACKENRIDGE. Bradford, Dec. 25th, 1815. Mr. John Vaughan, Philadelphia. My Dear. Sir,—I have understood that in the event of the death of Dr. Barton, Professor Cooper will be a candidate for the Chemical Chair in the University. I am glad of it; as the interest of the medical school will, no doubt, be con- sulted by placing in that important department a gentleman of celebrity and splendid talents, in which case Mr. Cooper will have no small chance of success. With a view of promoting the choice of this gentleman, I will state a few facts for the information of those concerned. I have been on terms of personal intimacy with Mr. Cooper for twenty years and upwards. I resided in the same town, practised at the same bar with, or argued causes before him, for ten years of that period, and during the residue of the time abovementioned, before and subequent to his acceptance of the Chemical Chair in Dickenson College, we frequently met, particularly at Carlisle, where my duty called me as a trustee of that institution. During my residence at Northumberland, where my acquaintance with Mr. Cooper commenced, and subsequently, I was perfectly acquainted with the character, pursuits, and claims of this gentleman. I will therefore state them. 1st, That Mr. Cooper has been every where consulted as a medical man by the physicians of Northumberland, Sunbury and Carlisle, where he resided. And on the circuit, in the counties of Luzerne, Lycoming, Mifflin, Huntingdon, Bed- ford and Somerset, when he practised with me as a lawyer or presided as a judge, and was always esteemed as one of the profession. 2dly, That Mr. Cooper was in the constant habit of attend- ing medical cases ever since I knew him, both at home and on the circuit, among the highest and lowest ranks in soci- ety. 3dly, That during all the above time, Mr. Cooper was almost universally called in for the purpose of consultation in all dangerous cases, and his opinions much esteemed by me- dical men and others. 6 4thly, That Mr. Cooper attended my family with my fami- ly physician in every critical case which occurred in it, for ten years: and it was my own, and the universal opinion of all ranks in society, that he was a most eminent, skilful, and suc- cessful practitioner; no one felt safe in difficult cases without consulting him, and he is still consulted by me in danger- ous cases in my family, though a most learned physician re- sides in the place, whom I brought with me when I removed to this county. 5thly, I know several cases in which Mr. Cooper, by his skill and perseverance, was the means of saving valuable lives. 6thly, That Mr. Cooper, for twenty years and upwards, has generously given his services as a physician without fee, or reward: that his skill and experience were employed as well for his friends as his enemies, indiscriminately; and he was more frequently found in the lowly cabin of the poor, who were in many cases unable to employ a regular physician, than in the higher ranks of society. In a word, his benefac- tions in the way of his gratuitous profession, were as univer- sal as his exertions were unremitted, without any earthly ex- pectations. 7thly, It is necessary, I should further say, that Mr. Cooper is moral, temperate, and exemplary in his conduct as a citi- zen. After the above developement of facts, falling within the verge of my own observation, you will not be surprised that I should entertain a most exalted opinion of this gentle- man. This opinion is not confined to myself, but is the universal sentiment of every person who had the honour of an intimate knowledge of his character. The world knows this gentleman possesses great natural talents, and extraordinary attainments in science; I and many others know him to be one of the most distinguished and benevolent of men on earth. You and Mr. Cooper are at liberty to make any use you please of this letter. Present my kind remembrance to him, and tell him I never received the letter he wrote me on the circuit. I am yours, &c. &c. JONATHAN WALKER. 7 The preceding Papers having been mislaid, 1 wrote to Judge Walker, transmitting him a copy of the letter which I ad- dressed lately to the Board of Trustees: the following is Judge Walker's reply. Bedford, August 6th, 1818. Dear Sir,—I have perused your address to the board of trustees, and given my certificate underneath to the truth of the facts as far as they came within my knowledge. I am sorry you have mislaid my letter to Mr. VaugHan on this sub- ject, as perhaps it may contain facts which may not at present occur to me. I have been acquainted with you for twenty odd years, eleven of which I resided in the same town with you; during which time you constantly practised as a physician, both amongst the poor and the rich, without charge: particularly in all cases of difficulty you were generally called in as the con- sulting physician, even when on your circuit. You constantly attended my family in such cases, and I never considered them safe without your advice. I well know that this opinion and practice was justified in all such cases by your medical skill and success. Indeed I do not hesitate saying, that your reputation as a physician was inferior to none in that country. It was a matter of a public notoriety, that you continued practising in Northumberland till your removal to Carlisle.— I very frequently visited Carlisle during your residence there. The facts mentioned in your address of your practice in that place, are known to me both by personal observation and the information of the gentlemen referred to therein, and of many others. Hundreds, to my knowledge, can testify to the bene- ficial results of your medical practice. I am, dear Sir, Your sincere friend, And very humble serv't. JONATHAN H. WALKER. Dr. Thomas Cooper. \ s At a meeting of the Medical Society, held at their Hall, November 1st, 1817, Doctor Cooper was appointed to report at the close of the session, on the progress and present state of Materia Medica. In conformity with the request of the Society, Doctor Cooper presented them with a very valuable and interesting report on the branch which had been allotted him. Extract from the minutes, JAMES P. FREEMAN, Secretary. May 9th, 1818. Med Hist. JLTO cl. y'm m 1 Hs m 1