Page:Early History of Medicine in Philadelphia - George W Norris.djvu/52

 useful branch of medical knowledge, though attended with very disagreeable circumstances, chiefly from the motive of the public good, and have and always will preserve the utmost decency with regard to the dead; and do again solemnly protest that none of your house or kindred shall ever be disturbed in them silent graves by me or any under my care."

In 1775 he entered the American army, though his lectures were interrupted by his official duties only during the winter of 1776 and '77. In the latter year he was appointed by Congress to succeed Dr. Morgan as Director-General of the Medical Department of the army. Grave charges were preferred against him for his conduct while in this office, of which, however, he was acquitted by Court-Martial in August, 1780, and in October of the same year he was re-appointed to the Directorship. In January, 1781, he resigned the situation, and again taught practical anatomy in a theatre which he had erected at his own expense, previous to his entering the service. For ten years after quitting the army, he continued to practise extensively as surgeon, accoucheur, and physician. Dr. Shippen died at Germantown July 11, 1808, aged seventy-two. As a lecturer, he is described as having been "brilliant," possessing a complete knowledge of his subject, a graceful