Page:A History of the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania.djvu/159

 degree of Doctor of Medicine, his thesis on this occasion was on “The Means of Moderating or Relieving Pain during Parturition.” This essay was afterwards expanded and published as a book, which added to the reputation of the author.

When, in 1810, it was determined to erect Midwifery to an independent position in the University, Dr. Dewees became a candidate for the Chair. The struggle, we are told, was “a warm one, and the claims of opposing candidates and the influence of their respective friends rendered the event doubtful. The strong claims of Dr. Dewees, his talents, his industry, his attainments, his dexterity, boldness, decision, and judgment as a practitioner; his great success in the practice of his art; his popularity, supported by the strongest testimonials from many of the distinguished men in the profession, including Drs. Rush and Physick, were met by analogous claims of Drs. James and Chapman.” The result has been already stated.

In 1812, Dr. Dewees, under the apprehension of a pulmonary affection, retired from the profession and became a farmer. This change did not result to his pecuniary advantage, and he returned to Philadelphia in 1817. In 1825 he was elected to the position of Adjunct Professor of Obstetrics. He had then passed the meridian of life, he was fifty-seven years of age, but his constitution was firm and his energy untiring. In this secondary post he remained until 1834, when he was elected to the Professorship. He delivered but one course of lectures in this position. On the commencement of the second course his health broke down from paralysis, and his retirement became expedient, both for himself and the school.

Dr. Dewees was a voluminous writer; but his best book is his first, his “Compendious System of Midwifery.” Although