The Early Days of Anglo-America's First Hospital

Abstract

By 1750 Philadelphia's population of 15,000 made her the second largest city in the 13 colonies. So rapid was the Quaker City's growth on the eve of the American Revolution she surpassed all other English-speaking cities in the British Empire save London. Social problems grew apace with the population. One salient social problem was the sick-poor. As early as 1731 Benjamin Franklin'sPennsylvania Gazettecalled attention to this problem but made no mention of a need for a hospital. Some 20 years later theGazetteagain called attention to the sick-poor, but then declared the idea of a hospital as a partial solution to the problem had met with such encouragement that there is reason to expect it may be carried into execution the ensueing year. Back in 1709 a group of Philadelphia Quakers talked of establishing a hospital, but nothing came of their efforts. Some 33 years