Charles P. Mercer notes on lectures from the University of Pennsylvania
Scope and Contents
The three Charles P. Mercer notebooks contain a record of his
education in the University of Pennsylvania's Department of
Medicine, 1887-1890.
Mercer describes cases presented at the Hospital of the University
of Pennsylvania during the clinical instruction of Francis X.
Dercum, William Osler, William Pepper, and Horatio C. Wood.
Several of Osler's cases were presented at Philadelphia Hospital
and the Philadelphia Orthopaedic Hospital and Infirmary for
Nervous Diseases. Many of the cases, particularly those of
Wood and Dercum, concern nervous diseases. Each individual
presentation contains the patient's case history, description
of symptoms, and prescribed treatment.
Some review questions from Mercer's course of therapeutics in
1889 and a few recipes are also included.
Researchers should note that the third notebook exists only in typescript.
Dates
- Creation: 1887-1890
Creator
- Mercer, Charles P. (Person)
Biographical / Historical
Charles Price Mercer was born in Philadelphia on 2 October 1864.
He married in 1894 and had one daughter, Ernestine. Mercer
died at Episcopal Hospital of bronchopneumonia and heart disease
on 19 September 1945.
Mercer attended the University of Pennsylvania and received his
Ph.B in 1886 and M.D. in 1891. On 4 December 1891, he opened
his private practice and spent most of his career in North Philadelphia.
In 1891, he was also appointed vaccinating physician for Philadelphia's
Board of Health; Mercer became a medical inspector for the Board
of Health in 1893 and held that position until 1931.
Full Extent
0.2 Linear feet (2 volumes and 4 folders)
Language of Materials
English
Custodial History
The Charles P. Mercer clinical notes were donated to the Historical
Collection of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia as part
of a larger gift by Samuel X Radbill, circa April 1984. The
collection was catalogued in 1990.
Dr. Radbill received the notebooks from Ernestine Mercer, daughter
of Charles P. Mercer, circa 1960. He described the volume of
notes on Osler's clinics in an article, "A student's note book
from William Osler's clinics injPhiladelphia", published
in Transactions and studies of the College of
Physicians of Philadelphia, ser. 4, vol. 29, no. 2, October
1961. The present location of this original notebook in unknown;
a typed transcription only is included in the collection.
Subject
- University of Pennsylvania (Organization)
- Title
- Charles P. Mercer notes on lectures from the University of Pennsylvania
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Historical Medical Library of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia Repository
19 S. 22nd Street
Philadelphia PA 19103 United States
