1To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Rush, 12 March 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Your Character as a Philosopher & friend of mankind predominates so much more in my mind over that of your new station, that I cannot resist the habit of addressing you as I have done in my former letters. Your new official title has added nothing to my respect for your person. It could not add to my friendship for you. You have opened a new Œra by your Speech on the 4th: of March in the...
2To James Madison from Benjamin Rush, 23 June 1801 (Madison Papers)
Permit me to revive a friendship, Once very dear to me, by addressing you upon a Subject highly interesting to the United States. The Commerce of our Country has suffered greatly by our Absurd Quarantine laws in the different States. These laws which admit the contagious nature of Our american yellow fever, have produced a reaction in the Governments of Europe which has rendered our Commerce...
3To Alexander Hamilton from Benjamin Rush, 26 November 1801 (Hamilton Papers)
Permit a whole family to mingle their tears with yours upon the late distressing event that has taken place in your family. It may perhaps help to sooth your grief when I add to that united expression of Sympathy, that your Son had made himself very dear to my family during his late visit to Philadelphia, by the most engaging deportment. His visits to us were daily, and after each of them he...
4To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Rush, 27 November 1801 (Jefferson Papers)
Accept much honoured & dear sir of a Copy of the enclosed publication. How joyful the Sound of Peace! It brings a thousand blessings in its train, among which the revival & diffusion of knowledge will not I hope be the least. Receive again, and again Assurances of the friendship of Dear sir your Affectionate humble Servant PS: Vaccination as you have happily called it, has taken root in our...
5To James Madison from Benjamin Rush, 5 December 1801 (Madison Papers)
My second son Richard Rush has long felt a strong desire to visit Europe in the capacity of a private Secretary to a foreign minister. He has been regularly educated to the profession of the law, and has began to do business in our city. His master Mr Lewis, & all his professional brethren speak in high terms of his knowledge and talents. His application to study has been unwearied. In...
6To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Rush, 12 March 1802 (Jefferson Papers)
Having just finished the labors of the Winter in the University, and hospital, I sit down with great pleasure to acknowledge your favor of Decemr last . One part of it commands my first Attention, and that is your communication of a discovery of a flaw in your Constitution from which you anticipate a certain, but easy passage out of life. Permit me my dear and long respected friend to request...
7To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Rush, 12 March 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
The Solicitude I felt upon the account of your health , excited by your letter of last summer, is in a great measure removed by the history you have given me of your disease in your favor of the 28th. of February. Chronic diseases even in persons in the decline of life, are far from being incurable, and I have great pleasure in assuring you that complaints of the bowels such as you have...
8To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Rush, 5 May 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I was made very happy by learning from your letter of the 23rd of April that your disease is less troublesome than formerly. As I know you have no faith in the principles of our Science, I shall from time to time combat your prejudices, and your disease (should it continue) by means of facts . Ever since I began the practice of medicine, I have kept common place books, in which I have recorded...
9To Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Rush, 11 June 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
I have endeavoured to fulfil your Wishes by furnishing Mr Lewis with some inquiries relative to the natural history of the Indians . The enclosed letter contains a few short directions for the preservation of his health, As well as the health of the persons Under his Command. His mission is truly interesting. I shall wait with great solicitude for its issue. Mr: Lewis appears admirably...
10Rush’s Directions to Meriwether Lewis for Preserving Health, 11 June 1803 (Jefferson Papers)
Dr. Rush to Capt. Lewis . for preserving his health. 1. when you feel the least indisposition, do not attempt to overcome it by labour or marching. rest in a horizontal posture.—also fasting and diluting drinks for a day or two will generally prevent an attack of fever. to these preventatives of disease may be added a gentle sweat obtained by warm drinks, or gently opening the bowels by means...