EBKrtLE 5
1S21 to Cordelia L. Fuller and in 1841, Edna Palmer, and had two children. C. S. C.
Eberle, John (1788-1838).
John Eberle was born in the county of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in January, 1788.
Of his parentage little is known ex- cept that both father and mother were of sturdy, German extraction, tilling the soil and no doubt requiring the same of their children as soon as they were old enough.
Although naturally endowed with a vigorous intellect he had no early edu- cational advantages. It is not certainly known who was his preceptor, prob- ably the good family physician, and later he matriculatied at the University of Pennsylvania where his name appears in the list of graduates in the year 1809 — the year he attained his majority, and his graduation thesis was devoted to an investigation of animal life. He at first settled in his native place, but as "a prophet is not without honor save in his own country," he selected Phila- delphia as his future field of medical labor.
Young, energetic and ambitious, with no acquaintances or friends to render him financial assistance, he soon realized that he must put forth every effort. A previous taste of newspaper work and, perhaps the lack of full employ- ment for his time at first, led to the establishment of the "American Med- ical Recorder" as a quarterly with John Eberle as its editor. The first number appeared in 1818. It was ably sustained and the popularity of the journal constantly increased because of the valuable papers found in its pages, but he had considerable difficulty in securing a publisher. Finally John Webster agreed to embark in the enter- prise and his pluck and energy were a large element in the Buccess of the mag- azine. Soon after this, in 1822, Eberle's "Therapeutics" appeared from the same! press. It was decidedly his best pro-
3 EBERLE
duction, was cordially received, and be- came a text-book.
Eberle was a member of the Philadel- phia Medical Society, taking an active part in its discussions and in its business affairs. It met every Saturday evening and the proceedings were so interest- ing that they attracted not only many of the professors but large numbers of the medical students, and was no doubt a potent factor leading to the establish- ment of a second medical school which was called the "Jefferson Medical College."
From the time of its organization Eberle taught materia medica and also the theory and practice of medicine with marked ability, adding much to the success and popularity of the school in connection with which he published a work "On the Theory and Practice of Medicine," for which he received liberal compensation.
It was comprehensive and original, not a mere compilation of previous or foreign works. That it was well re- ceived is manifest from the fact that it passed through five editions and was adopted as a text-book by various colleges. In connection with the larger work he also published a more concise one designed specially for students, being a synopsis of his lectures and known as "Eberle's Notes."
The revenues from Jefferson College poorly supported his growing family, for he desired to give his sons better educational advantages than he himself had enjoyed. Hence, disappointed in his favorite enterprise, he was easily interested in a scheme for establishing a new medical school in Cincinnati as a rival of the Medical College of Ohio, and to be known as the Medical De- partment of Miami University.
This project was consumated in 1830, Eberle, Drake and Mitchell being drawn from Philadelphia to take part in tin- university plan, but before the arrange- ments were fully matured the rival schools were amalgamated and the Philadelphia professors found themselves in the Medical College of Ohio.
