HISTORY OF Neurology Early, Early Neurology In America Benjamin Rush, MD & Amariah Brigham, MD Richard J. Barohn, MD The University of Kansas Medical Center

Benjamin Rush, MD 1746-1813 College of New Jersey (Princeton University) and University of Edinburgh Taught by Thomas Sydenham and Hermann Boerhaave The Father of American Psychiatry Medical Inquires and Observations of the Mind: published 1812 Theory: Brain diseases are due to congestion of the brain Rx Blood letting Dr. Rush Bilious pills-laxative with 50% mercury “Thunderclappers” –used by Lewis and Clark Surgeon general continental army Military hygiene

What was Benjamin Rush famous for outside of medicine? Painter Novels Signed Declaration of Independence Musician ANSWER: C – Signed Declaration of Independence

Benjamin Rush, MD Non-medical Fame Leader in the American Enlightenment Delegate to Continental Congress Signed the Declaration of Independence Opposed slavery and death penalty Pro women’s education Consulted with Thomas Paine on Common Sense

What American wrote the 1st neurology textbook published in the USA? Amariah Brigham, MD Benjamin Rush, MD William Gowers, MD William Osler, MD ANSWER: A – Amariah Brigham, MD

Amariah Brigham, MD 1798-1849 Born 1798 - New Marlborough, Massachusetts Died 1849 - Utica, New York Apprenticeship under various MDs 1816- 1820 Private practice, then traveled to Europe 1828 Studied in England (Bell, Abernathy) & France (Magendie, Dupuytren, Cruveilhier) Founded: American Journal of Insanity (now American Journal of Psychiatry) Founded: American Institutions of the Insane Now the American Psychiatric Association Wrote – ‘An Inquiry Into Diseases and Functions of the Brain, Spinal Cord and Nerves’ – 1840 The 1st neurologist in the U.S.A

Amariah Brigham M.D. 1798-1849 ‘An Inquiry Into Diseases and Functions of the Brain, Spinal Cord and Nerves’ -1840 Purpose: “To call the attention of those practitioners of medicine into whose hands it falls, to the importance of the nervous system; and to persuade them to embrace every opportunity that is presented for studying its function and diseases” Preface Methods to study the brain: Chemical analysis Dissection of the brain Experiments on living animals Comparative anatomy The foetal condition and growth of the brain Pathologic observations External examination of the cranium