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

2. Benjamin Rush, MD
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

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

5. 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

7. 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

8. Amariah Brigham, MD
Born New Marlborough, Massachusetts
Died Utica, New York
Apprenticeship under various MDs
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

9. Amariah Brigham M.D ‘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