Rush’s Writings for the A.P.S.

1. “An account of the Effects of the Stramonium or Thorn-Apple.” Read Nov. 2, 1770. Published in Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, o.s. vol. 1, 1771, 318-322.

2. “An Enquiry into the Methods of Preventing the Painful and Fatal Effects of Cold upon the Human Body.” Read Jan. 3, 1772. Published anonymously in Columbian Magazine, vol. 1, May 1787, 427-31.

3. “Enquiry into the cause of Sleep & Dreams.” Offered to the Society and referred to the Medical Committee, July 18, 1773. Never published?

4. “Experiments and Observations on the Mineral Waters of Philadelphia, Abington, and Bristol, in the Province of Pennsylvania.” Read June 18, 1773, before the American Philosophical Society. Published by James Humphreys, Junior, 1773. APS minutes say the paper was read July 18, 1773.

5. “An Enquiry into the Cause with an Acct. Of the Efficacy of Liquid Laudanum in the Disorder bro’t on by drinking cold Water.” Read Nov. 19, 1773. Published under the title “An Account of the disorder occasioned by drinking cold water in warm weather and the method of curing it” in Rush’s Medical Inquiries and Observations, vol. I, 1789, 129-32, and in later editions of this work.

6. An Oration, Delivered February 4, 1774, before the American Philosophical Society, held at Philadelphia. Containing, An Enquiry into the Natural History of Medicine among the Indians of North America, and A comparative View of their Diseases and Remedies, with those of civilized Nations. Published by Joseph Crukshank, [1774]. Reprinted in Rush’s Medical Inquiries and Observations, vol. I, 1789, 9-56, and in later editions.

7. An Enquiry into the Cause of the Increase of Bilious Fevers in Pennsylvania, with Hints for preventing them. Read Dec. 16, 1786. Published in Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, o.s. vol. 2, 1786, 206-12.

8. An Account of the late Dr. Hugh Martin’s Cancer Powder, with brief Observations on Cancers. Read Feb. 3, 1786. Published in Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, o.s. vol. 2, 1786, 212-17. Reprinted as “An Account of the external Use of Arsenic in the Cure of Cancers” in Rush’s Medical Inquiries and Observations, vol. I, 1789, 163-68, and in later editions.

9. An Oration, Delivered before the American Philosophical Society, Held in Philadelphia on the 27th of February, 1786, Containing An Enquiry into the Influence of Physical Causes upon the Moral Faculty. Published by Charles Cist, 1786. Reprinted in Rush’s Medical Inquiries and Observations, vol. II 1793, 1-56, and in later editions.

10. Observations on the Cause and Cure of the Tetanus. Read Mar. 17, 1786. Published in Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, o.s. vol. 2, 1786, 225-31. Reprinted in Rush’s Medical Inquiries and Observations, vol. I, 1789, 169-76, and, much revised, in later editions.

11. Thoughts on Common Sense. Read Feb. 18, 1791. Published anonymously in the Universal Asylum and Columbian Magazine, vol. 6, April 1791, 249-56. Reprinted in Rush’s Essays, Literary, Moral, & Philosophical, 1798, 249-56.

12. Inquiries and Observations upon Old Age. Read May 6, 1791. Probably an earlier version of “An Account of the State of the Body and Mind in Old Age . . . ” in Rush’s Medical Inquiries and Observations, vol. II 1793, 293-321.

13. An Account of the Sugar Maple-Tree, of the United States, and of the Methods of obtaining Sugar from it, Together with Observations upon the Advantages both public and private of this Sugar. In a letter to Thomas Jefferson. . . . Read in the Philosophical Society, on the 19, of August, 1701, and extracted from the third volume of their Transactions now in Press. Published by R. Aiken & Son, 1792. Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, o.s. vol. 3, 1793, 64-81. Reprinted in Rush’s Essays, Literary, Moral, & Philosophical, 1798, 275-94.

14. An Eulogium, Intended to Perpetuate the Memory of David Rittenhouse, Late President of the American Philosophical Society, Delivered before the Society in the First Presbyterian Church, in High-street, Philadelphia, on the 17th Dec. 1796. Published by J. Ormrod, [1796]. Reprinted in Rush’s Essays, Literary, Moral, & Philosophical, 1798, 343-78.

15. Observations intended to favour a supposition that the Black Color (as it is called) of the Negroes is derived from the Leprosy. Read July 14, 1797. Published in Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, o.s. vol. 4, 1799, 289-97.^[1]From Lyman H. Butterfield, “Benjamin Rush as a Promoter of Useful Knowledge,” Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, vol. 92, no. 1, March 1948, 35-6.