Background
John Syng Dorsey was born on December 23, 1783 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. His father, Leonard Dorsey, was a merchant in Philadelphia.
(Excerpt from Elements of Surgery, Vol. 1 of 2: For the Us...)
Excerpt from Elements of Surgery, Vol. 1 of 2: For the Use of Students; With Plates Numerous circumstances combine to render neces sary an American Epitome of Practical Surgery; those members of the medical profession who, by talent and experience, are best qualified to compose it, are fully occupied by other duties, and indifferent to that species of reputation which might accrue from such a publicai tion; the labour has therefore, in the present instance, devolved upon one in many respects inadequate to the performance, and fully sensible of the imperfections of his work. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
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John Syng Dorsey was born on December 23, 1783 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. His father, Leonard Dorsey, was a merchant in Philadelphia.
Dorsey received his early education at a school conducted by the Society of Friends. He graduated in medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in 1802 at the age of nineteen years, his dissertation being An Essay on the Lithonthriptic Virtues of the Gastric Liquor published the same year. In 1803 he proceeded to London and Paris for further study, a course which was followed at that time by the majority of those who were able to round out their medical studies by a sojourn abroad. He also attended lectures on chemistry by Humphry Davy.
Dorsey was appointed a resident physician to the yellow-fever hospital and gained considerable credit by his study of the disease.
In London he was welcomed by Edward Home, afterward Sir Edward, and seems to have devoted himself principally to the study of anatomy.
In Paris he continued his anatomical studies but does not seem to have been much impressed by French surgery and makes little or no mention of some of the great men of the day whom he must have seen.
In December 1804, he returned to Philadelphia and began the practise of medicine, in a short time receiving appointments on the staffs of several hospitals.
While recognition of his ability came quickly in this form, it apparently came slowly in the form of practise, even with the support of Dr. Physick.
In 1810 he was elected a surgeon to the Pennsylvania Hospital, where he ligated the external iliac artery, apparently the first time that this operation was done successfully in America.
In 1813 he published a work on The Elements of Surgery, in two octavo volumes, for which many of the illustrations were prepared by himself. This was very successful and was given considerable recognition abroad, especially in Edinburgh. It is supposed to represent to a considerable degree the views and practise of Dr. Physick. Three editions were published, the last appearing after the death of the author.
His introductory lecture, delivered on November 2, 1818, was described in the accounts of the day as being a most eloquent effort, but on the night of that lecture he was attacked by typhus fever, and he died within a fortnight.
The contemporary accounts of his life lay stress on his remarkable qualities, personal, social, professional, and artistic.
His skill in drawing was put to practical use in the illustration of his work on surgery.
His appointment at an early age to the staff of the Pennsylvania Hospital is evidence of his surgical ability.
(Excerpt from Elements of Surgery, Vol. 1 of 2: For the Us...)
On April 30, 1807 Dorsey married Maria Ralston, daughter of Robert Ralston, a Philadelphia merchant.
