On this day 250 years ago, Dr. Benjamin Rush delivered an oration “before the American Philosophical Society, held at Philadelphia: containing, an enquiry into the natural history of medicine among the Indians in North-America, and a comparitive view of their diseases and remedies, with those of civilized nations ; together with an appendix, containing, proofs and illustrations”. Rush would later serve as Surgeon General of the Continental Army, represent Pennsylvania in the Continental Congress and sign the Declaration of Independence.

https://collections.nlm.nih.gov/catalog/nlm:nlmuid-2569044R-bk