Page:Early History of Medicine in Philadelphia - George W Norris.djvu/19

 honor of the landing of William Penn at Chester, in 1699, an accident happened by which a young man had his hand and arm shattered, and the historian adds, "Amputation was resolved upon by Dr. Griffith Owen, the surgeon, and some other skilful persons present. But as the arm was cut off, some spirits in a basin happened to take fire, and being spilt upon the surgeon's apron, set his cloathes on fire; and there being a great crowd of spectators, some of them were in the way, and in danger of being scalded, as the surgeon himself was upon the hands and face; but running into the street, the fire was quenched; and so quick was he, that the patient lost not very much blood, though left in that open bleeding condition." William Penn, in one of his letters, speaks of him as "tender Griffith Owen, who both sees and feels."

A short time after the arrival of the above-named gentlemen, and in the same year, a son-in-law of Wynne, emigrated to this Province, and settled in the county of Philadelphia, where he died at an advanced age, leaving a son, a physician, who in after years became the preceptor of Dr. Cadwalader.