Wright Post / [Alfred Stillman].

  • Stillman, Alfred.
Date:
[1925]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Wright Post / [Alfred Stillman]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Reprint from SURGERY, GYNECOLOGY AND OBSTETRICS August, 1925, pages 232-234 ROY MOODi COLLECTION I WRIGHT POST By ALFRED STILLMAN, M.D., F.A.C.S., New York WRIGHT POST was born February 18, 1766, at North Hempstead on Long Island and died at Throggs Neck, the Bronx, June 14, 1828. His father was Jotham Post and his mother was a daughter of Benjamin Wright. For nearly thirty years he was the leading practitioner in New York City. At the early age of fifteen he began the study of medicine under Richard Bayley, a skillful and celebrated surgeon of New York. After four years of diligent and persevering work at home he went to London to become pupil to John Sheldon, renowned teacher of anatomy and surgery. In two and one half years, living most of this time with his preceptor, he undoubtedly absorbed much of the spirit and zeal of this great enthusiast. On his return he began active practice and was soon delivering lectures in anatomy at the New York Hospital. These were interrupted, however, by the occurrence of what was called by the chroniclers of the day, the “Doctors’ Mob.” The reason for this demonstration was about as follows: During the preceding winter some local cemeteries had been invaded, graves opened, and bodies re¬ moved therefrom. The people were greatly outraged. They suspected doctors of using this means of acquiring dissecting material. On Sunday, April 13, 1788, children playing in the hospital yard saw a limb hanging out of a window. They told others and a crowd collected, entered the hospital, removed a couple of bodies which were later interred, destroyed some valuable specimens, and even sought the young doctors, several of whom the mayor and sheriff rescued by lodging in jail. The next morning a number of people gathered, searched the homes of the suspected physicians, but as they were not satisfied, in the after¬ noon they threatened the jail. The militia had to be called out. As these re¬ sponded in small groups one, being surrounded and stoned, fired in self-defense, killing two or three and wounding others. The mob disbanded shortly after. In 1790 Post married Dr. Bayley’s daughter and the following year became associated in practice with his father-in-law. He was appointed professor of surgery in Columbia College in 1792, while Dr. Bayley was given the chair of anatomy. He then went to London again for further study and to procure a medical cabinet. Returning in 1793 he brought back the material for the first museum, according to John Augustine Smith, in the United States. 1 Published by Surgical Pub. Co., Chicago, U.S.A.
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