Page:Early History of Medicine in Philadelphia - George W Norris.djvu/95

 of his department. Dr. Morgan justly held that a due respect to rank was necessary and proper; and we find in a letter from Dr. Brown, a prominent hospital director, that his scrupulous adherence to a supposed dignity of office gave much offence to some of the Congress, as well as to his brother officers of the profession. In fact, in the early part of the war the adjustment of rank was a great difficulty in the army, and there were perpetual disputes concerning it among all classes and grades. In the medical corps, sub-directors and surgeons were appointed by Congress for different districts, and the not unfrequent removal of these officers from one district to another by order of Congress, was productive of interference of authority, and jealousies and disputes, very injurious to the service; and it is not unlikely that Dr. Morgan, though undoubtedly at times treated with marked want of respect by some, yet made more complaint to the Medical Committee of Congress in regard to it than the latter considered mere matters of etiquette required, amid the heavy trials the country was then passing through. This inference is much strengthened, I think, by the following passage in a private letter to him from Charles Thomson:—

"There is no man, Sir," says the truthful Secretary, "