Benjamin Rush’s “An Enquiry into the Natural History of Medicine among the Indians in North-America,” delivered as an oration before the American Philosophical Society on February 4, 1774, offers a comparative analysis of Indigenous and European medical practices. Rush, a prominent physician and signer of the Declaration of Independence, examines the medicinal knowledge of Native American tribes, focusing on their diseases and remedies. He acknowledges the challenges in distinguishing between native and European-influenced ailments and remedies, highlighting the complexities in understanding Indigenous medical practices.

Rush’s inquiry delves into the various diseases prevalent among Native American populations, contrasting them with those common in European societies. He discusses the remedies employed by Indigenous healers, providing insights into their approaches to treatment. The oration serves as a reflection on the medical knowledge of the time, offering a perspective on how Indigenous practices were perceived and understood by European settlers. Through this comparative study, Rush contributes to the broader discourse on the intersection of Indigenous and European medical traditions during the 18th century.