Collections : [David M. Rubenstein Rare Book and Manuscript Library]

Washington acknowledges the receipt of Rush's letter, and regrets the defects of the medical department, as Rush and Gov. Livingston have described them. Washington reports that he has taken measures to have the hospitals inspected and considered regulations regarding them. Includes a separate invitation for Rush to dine with the ?Washington.

Gates indicates that he will try the remedies Rush suggested. He believes that England is likely to become a despotism, and notes that there is a rumor in New York City that England will defeat America's treaty with France regarding Louisiana.

Contains primarily Benjamin Rush's records of his expenses, including tax and bond payments, rental property fees, classes and dance lessons for family members, as well as money lent or advanced, accounts paid, cash received, and income from boarders. Rush noted the wide variety of areas where his money was spent, from postage and travel, to clothing and shoes, to household provisions and stores, along with medicines purchased. In addition, Rush created accounts for servants when they arrived, and noted their wages and any increased wages, advances, or loans; cloth, clothing, and shoes provided; with occasional notes on their personal and work habits and work history, and when they exited his service or married. Several of the comments have been redacted, along with a few pages of the account book. Finally, Rush made a few brief commonplace notes randomly in the volume, providing a "style sheet" for description of pulses, outlining a few prescriptions for patients, describing the weather, listing inventories of his furniture and linens, recording a few recipes, and in 1783, noting the news of possible peace with England.

Madison writes regarding quarantine laws in Europe and their impact on commerce with the United States, with reference to yellow fever in particular.

McHenry details reforms required within the Army's medical department and makes recommendations for restructuring of general and regimental hospitals, controlling fraud in the commissaries, increasing the numbers of nurses and surgeons, and improving the distribution of medicine.

Dickinson writes that he has purchased and perused all the doctor's works and requests his help in diagnosing and treating a child that is in excruciating pain.

Dickinson writes that he has read with pleasure Rush's essay on female education. He requests Rush's help with another project, "to prepare the public Mind for receiving…the proceedings of the Convention."