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Resolved, That the appointment of the four surgeons and the apothecary be left to Doctor B. Church.

That the mates be appointed by the surgeons.

That the number of mates do not exceed twenty.

That the number be not kept in constant pay, unless the sick and wounded should be so numerous as to require the attendance of twenty, and to be diminished as circumstances will admit; for which purpose the pay is fixed by the day, that they may only receive pay for actual service.

That one clerk, two storekeepers, and one nurse to every ten sick be appointed by the director.

September 14, 1775.

Resolved, That Samuel Stringer, esq., be appointed director of the hospital and chief physician and surgeon for the Army in the northern department.

That the pay of the said Samuel Stringer, as director, physician, and surgeon, be four dollars per day.

That he be authorized and have power to appoint a number of surgeons' mates under him, not exceeding four.

That the pay of said mates be two-thirds of a dollar per day. That the number be not kept in constant pay, unless the sick and wounded be so numerous as to require the constant attendance of four, and to be diminished as circumstances will admit, for which reason the pay is fixed by the day, that they may only receive pay for actual service. That the deputy commissary-general be directed to pay Dr. Stringer for the medicines he has purchased for the use of the Army, and that he purchase and forward such other medicines as General Schuyler shall, by his warrant, direct for the use of said Army.

That Mr. Dyer, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Jay, Mr. J. Adams, and Mr. Lewis be a committee to devise ways and means for supplying the Continental Army with medicines.

September 23, 1775.

Ordered, That the committee appointed to devise ways and means of supplying the Army with medicines do buy a parcel of drugs in the hands of Mr. Rapalje, which he offers at prime cost.

October 3, 1775.-"Doctor Isaac Foster, to take the direction and superintendency of the general hospital until further orders." (Orders, General Headquarters [no place given].)

October 14, 1775.-Dr. Church was arrested for holding correspondence with the enemy.

October 17, 1775.

The Congress proceeded to the election o. a director-general and chief physician of the hospital [in Massachusetts Bay], in the room of Dr. Church, and the ballots being examined,

Dr. John Morgan, of Philadelphia, was elected.

January 3, 1776.

Resolved, That the following goods and stores ought to be imported as soon as possible for the use of the United Colonies, viz:

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Medicines, surgeons' instruments, lint and bandages, in the whole to the amount of £2,000 sterling.

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Resolved, That the secret committee be empowered and directed to pursue the most effectual measures for importing the foregoing articles.

March 1, 1776.

Resolved, That the secret committee be directed to treat with the owners of some medicines lately imported, and to purchase the same on the most reasonable terms for the use of the continent.

May 3, 1776.

Resolved, That the secret committee be directed to send two hundred pounds of Peruvian bark to the commanding officer in Virginia for the use of the Continental forces in the southern department.

May 11, 1776.

Resolved, That two sets of trepanning instruments be sent to Virginia for the use of the surgeons of the Continental troops there; and that two sets of trepanning instruments and 100 lbs. of Peruvian bark be sent to North Carolina for the use of the Continental troops in that colony.

May 18, 1776.

The Congress then proceeded to the election of a director of the hospital in Virginia, and the ballots being taken,

William Rickman was elected.

Resolved, That the hospital in Virginia be on the same establishment, and the pay of the officers thereof the same, as the hospital established in the eastern department;

That two surgeons, one apothecary, six mates

to the hospital in Virginia;

be allowed

That the director be empowered to nominate the surgeons and apothecary;

That the mates be appointed by the surgeons, and that the number of the mates be diminished as circumstances will admit; for which reason the pay is fixed by the day, that they may only receive pay for actual services.

Resolved,

June 17, 1776.

That the committee appointed to provide medicines be directed to send a proper assortment of medicines to Canada.

June 18, 1776.

Resolved, That Mr. Heyward and Mr. Hall be added to the committee procuring medicines.

July 6, 1776.

Resolved, That Doctor Jonathan Potts be employed as a physician and surgeon in the Canada department or at Lake George, as the general shall direct; but that this appointment shall not supersede Dr. Stringer.

July 15, 1776.

Resolved, That a chief physician be appointed for the flying camp, and that his pay be four dollars a day.

The ballots being taken and examined,
Doctor William Shippen, jr., was elected.

July 17, 1776.

Resolved, That the number of hospital surgeons and mates be increased in proportion to the augmentation of the Army, not exceeding one surgeon and five mates to every five thousand men, to be reduced when the Army is reduced or when there is no further occasion for such a number;

That as many persons be employed in the several hospitals

as are necessary for the service for the time being, to be appointed by the directors of the respective hospitals;

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That the several directors of hospitals in the several departments shall transmit to the director-general regular returns of the number of surgeons' mates and other officers employed under them, their and names pay; also an account of the expenses and furniture of the hospital under their direction, and that the director-general make reports of the same, from time to time, to the Commander in Chief and this Congress.

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That the pay of the hospital surgeons be increased to one dollar and two-thirds of a dollar by the day; the pay of the hospital mates to one dollar by the day; and the pay of the hospital apothecary to one dollar and two-thirds of a dollar by the day; and that the hospital surgeons and mates take rank of regimental surgeons and mates.

July 20, 1776.

Resolved, That Dr. Senter be recommended to Dr. Morgan, who is desired to examine him, and if, upon examination, he be found qualified, to employ him in the hospital as a surgeon.

August 6, 1776.

Resolved, That the medical committee be directed to supply the director of the hospital with such medicines as he may want.

August 7, 1776.

Resolved, That Dr. Rush be added to the medical committee.

August 20, 1776.

Resolved, That Dr. Morgan was appointed director-general and physician in chief of the American Hospital;

That Dr. Stringer was appointed director and physician of the hospital in the northern department only;

That every director of a hospital possesses the exclusive right of appointing surgeons and hospital officers of all kinds, agreeable to the resolutions of Congress of the 17th of July, in his own department, unless otherwise directed by Congress;

That Dr. Stringer be authorized to appoint a surgeon for the fleet now fitting out upon the lakes;

That a druggist be appointed in Philadelphia, whose business it shall be to receive and deliver all medicines, instruments, and shop furniture for the benefit of the United States;

That a salary of 30 dollars a month be paid to the said druggist for his labor.

Congress proceeded to the election of a druggist, and, the ballots being taken,

Dr. William Smith was elected.

August 26, 1776.

Resolved, That Congress have a proper sense of the merits and services of Dr. McHenry, and recommend the directors of the different hospitals belonging to the United States to appoint Dr. McHenry to the first vacancy that shall happen of a surgeon's berth in any of the said hospitals.

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Ordered, That the medical committee forward 300 lbs. of Peruvian bark to the southern department, for the use of the troops there.

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Resolved, That an assistant physician to Dr. Shippen be appointed for the flying camp and troops in New Jersey, and that his pay be 2 dollars and d. per day;

The ballot being taken,

Dr. William Brown was elected.

September 24, 1776.

Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to devise ways and means for effectually providing the northern army with

medicines

The members chosen, Mr. Rush, Mr. Hall, Mr. Chase, Mr. Johnson, and Mr. Stockton.

Resolved, That the medical committee be directed to apply to the council of safety of Pennsylvania for a quantity of medicines, to be repaid in kind or in cash, as they shall choose.

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September 30, 1776.

Resolved, That it be recommended to the legislatures of the United States to appoint gentlemen in their respective States, skillful in physic and surgery, to examine those who offer to serve as surgeons or surgeons' mates in the Army. and that no surgeon or mate shall hereafter receive a commission or warrant to act as such in the Army who shall not produce a certificate from some one of the examiners to be appointed, to prove that he is qualified to execute the office.

That all regimental surgeons and mates, as well as those of the hospital, be subject to the direction and control of the directors in the several departments.

Resolved,

October 9, 1776.

That John Morgan, esq., provide and superintend an hospital, at a proper distance from the camp, for the army posted on the east side of Hudson River.

That William Shippen, jr., esq., provide and superintend an hospital for the army in the State of New Jersey.

That each of the hospitals be supplied by the respective directors with such a number of surgeons, apothecaries, surgeons' mates as they shall judge expedient.

That they make weekly reports to Congress and the Commander in Chief of the officers and assistants of each denomination, and also the numbers of sick and deceased in their respective hospitals.

November 26, 1776.

Resolved, That the committee who are sent to the camp be directed to make particular enquiry into the abuses in the Medical Department in the Army, and report thereon to Congress.

November 28, 1776.

Resolved, That Dr. Morgan take care of such sick and wounded of the Army of the United States as are on the east side of Hudson's River, and that Dr. Shippen take care of such sick and wounded as are on the west side of Hudson's River; and that they both be directed to use the utmost diligence in superintending the surgeons and mates of the Army, so that the sick and wounded may be effectually provided with everything necessary for their recovery.

November 29, 1776.

Resolved, That the medical committee be directed to provide sufficient quantities of antiscorbutics for the use of the hospitals in the northern army;

That the hospital at Fort George be continued for the reception of soldiers laboring with contagious diseases, and that there be a general hospital erected on Mount Independence;

That a suitable spot of ground for a garden be enclosed in the neighborhood of the general hospital, to supply the Army with vegetables,

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