Drug Supplies in the American Revolution Part 8

[123] _Pennsylvania Packet_, April 15, 22, 1777. This anonymous article was written by Dr. Benjamin Rush and reprinted as a pamphlet.

[124] Potts Papers, vol. 2, folios 158, 159.

[125] _Pennsylvania Ledger_, October 10, 1777; _Pennsylvania Evening Post_, October 14, 18, 1777.

[126] _Pennsylvania Evening Post_, November 1, 8, 13, 1777, April 29, 1778. (A large number of advertis.e.m.e.nts announcing thefts appeared during the British occupation.)

[127] _Pennsylvania Evening Post_, January 10 through April 20, 1778, and _Pennsylvania Ledger_, April 4, 15, 1778. [Yeldall advertised his "Anti-Venereal Essence" only once under American occupation, but at $4.00 per bottle (_Pennsylvania Evening Post_, August 26, 1777).]

[128] _Pennsylvania Evening Post_, June 25, 1777.

[129] Gibson, _op. cit._ (footnote 2), p. 149.

[130] It was in February 1778 that Dr. Potts a.s.sumed his office as purveyor general for the hospital department of the Continental Army with the duty of purchasing and distributing all supplies and medicines (_ibid._, p. 154).

[131] Potts Papers, vol. 1, folio 24. (This apparently is the list prepared by Brown, even though it is not signed by him. The item "Medicines, Vials, Cork &c 20,000" was added with the statement "The above enumerated articles should be purchased immediately," and both were in the handwriting of "W. s.h.i.+ppen, D.G." The doc.u.ment is undated.)

[132] _Ibid._, vol. 4, folio 419; Brown to Potts, March 11, 1778.

[133] _Ibid._, folio 428; Cutting to Potts, March 25, 1778.

[134] _Ibid._, folio 432; Cutting to Potts, March 30, 1778.

[135] _Ibid._, folio 441; Cutting to Potts, April 16, 1778.

[136] _Ibid._, vol. 2, folio 151; Tillotson to Potts, February 22, 1777. [Cutting served as a.s.sistant Apothecary under Craigie at Cambridge and Roxbury. The feud has not been explored in any of Craigie's biographies.]

[137] _Ibid._, vol. 4, folio 429; Craigie to Potts, March 27, 1778.

[138] _Ibid._, folio 437; Craigie to Potts, April 4, 1778.

[139] _Ibid._, folio 411; Potts to Gates, February 24, 1778.

[140] _Ibid._, folio 441; Craigie to Potts, May 1, 1778.

[141] _Ibid._, vol. 1, folios 41, 44; undated invoices from Lux & Bowly that undoubtedly were supplied during the spring or summer of 1778. Also, vol. 4, folio 476; letter from James Caldwell to Potts advising "I sent forward from Baltimore a case of medicine & five cases of Bark ... I have three cases more of Bark not yet up from Williamsburg where it arrived."

[142] _Ibid._, vol. 4, folio 458; Craigie to Potts, May 1, 1778.

Craigie advises: "Enclosed is a small List directed to Mr. Root [Israel Root or Josiah Root, both apothecaries from Connecticut] which I think may well be spared from the Northward, and are much wanted here. I wish therefore they may be ordered. Andrew Atekin our a.s.sistant there might come with them--he would make a good Hospital Apothecary." Also, vol. 4, folio 431, an undated "Invoice of Medicines &c. to be forwared for Head Quarters to Compleat ye Regimental a.s.sortments for the Army of the United States in the Middle Department for the Campaign 1778."

[143] _Ibid._, folio 419; Brown to Potts, March 11, 1778.

[144] _Ibid._, folio 458; Craigie to Potts, May 1, 1778.

[145] _Ibid._, folio 428; Cutting to Potts, March 25, 1778. Cutting notes: "as to volatile salts, I expect a fine parcel manufactured at Carlisle by tomorrow."

[146] _Ibid._, folio 471; Craik to Potts, May 24, 1778. Dr. Craik, a regimental surgeon, advises: "I wish you could procure some Cathartic salts. The Regimental surgeons complain greatly for want of them....

You may engage any quant.i.ty at the salt works in the Jersies."

[147] Gibson, _op. cit._ (footnote 2), pp. 166-167.

[148] Potts Papers, vol. 4, folios 462, 467; Craik to Potts, May 2 and May 15. On May 2, Craik advises that "the medicine chests are much wanted in the Regiments. Doctr. Cutting had best have them filled up as soon as possible to prevent complaints." On May 15 Craik commented: "I am sorry Doctr. Cutting went away before the Regiment Chests were finished; there is great clamour about them tho Doctr. Layman is as busy as possible.... I hope Doctr. Craig[ie] will soon have his chests ready."

[149] Gibson, _op. cit._ (footnote 2), pp. 167-168.

[150] Potts Papers, vol. 1, folio 25, undated.

[151] Gibson, _op. cit._ (footnote 2), p. 178, and Duncan, _op. cit._ (footnote 2), pp. 115-116, 275.

[152] Miller, _op. cit._ (footnote 1), pp. 425-477.

[153] An interesting account of the medical aspects of Burgoyne's campaign is recorded by R. M. Gorssline in _Canadian Defense Quarterly_, 1929, vol. 6, pp. 356-363.