Page:A Discourse upon the Institution of Medical Schools in America - John Morgan.djvu/21

 to the hospital, whose prescriptions I put up there above the space of one year. The term of my apprenticeship being expired, I devoted myself for four years to a military life, principally with a view to become more skillful in my profession; being engaged, the whole of that time, in a very extensive practice in the army, amongst diseases of every kind. The last five years I have spent in Europe, under the most celebrated masters in every branch of Medicine, and spared no labour or expence to store my mind with an extensive acquaintance in every science, that related any way to the duty of a physician; having in that time expended, in this pursuit, a sum of money, of which the very interest would prove no contemptible income. With what success this has been done others are to judge, and not myself.

Thus I have arrived at the middle age of life, in endeavouring to lay up treasures of useful knowledge, before I commence a settled practice; and yet I have been told, that to expect to gain a support here by my medical advice and attendance only, without becoming a surgeon and apothecary too in order to help out, is to forget that I was born an American. I am very happy that my country has always discovered too much of a laudable ambition to excellexcel [sic] in every branch of polite literature, and has taken too much pleasure in the reputation of her sons, to fill