ivity" and again opening a shop in Water-Street for drugs and
medicines.[71]

Importations from London commenced as early as December 1776 when "the
Brig Friendship lying at Beaches Wharf" offered for sale "An
Assortment of Drugs, Consisting of Bark, Opium, Rhubarb, &c." In April
1777 Speaight advertised "a fresh Importation ... from the original
ware-houses in London," and, in June, Attwood advertised "A large and
general Assortment of Drugs and Medicines freshly imported.... Several
Medicine Chests complete, fitted up in London, with printed
Directions."[72]

Importation by the British was not without its problems, however.
Joseph Gurney Bevan, owner of the Plough Court Pharmacy in London,
wrote Dr. Traser in Jamaica on October 25, 1777:

I hope thou will be pleased with the Bark. It is very good and the
best I have seen this year, but I do not think any Bark in town is
equal to what I have seen in former years. Thou wilt note the snake
root to be very dear. The cause is the stoppage of the American
trade. Opium is also much higher than I ever knew it. The insurance
is raised on account of the American privateers.

Answering a letter from William Stewart of New York, Bevan wrote on
March 5, 1777:

I wish it were yet in my power to ... forward the medicines and
utensils thou hast written for. But on inquiry I am informed that
it is not permitted that anything shall yet be sent to New York in
a merchantile way. Therefore I must defer till the wanted
intercourse between us and you is re-established.... I want to
advise thee to buy what snake root thou cans't pick up which I
believe if sent hither at the first opening of the trade, will turn
to good Account.

Bevan was still reluctant to make any shipments in April because the
"ships and cargoes on their arrival at New York will be at the mercy
of the persons in command there," but on September 4 he shipped a
large order to McLean.[73] During the remainder of the war, the
Plough Court Pharmacy continued regular shipments to McLean as well as
to Stewart and to Brownejohn.

"Medicines--None"

Morgan's chaotic situation at New York was mild compared to the
conditions at Fort George and Ticonderoga in the Northern Department.
Dr. Samuel Stringer, medical director of the Northern Department,
wrote General Washington on May 10, 1776, that the majority of the
regimental surgeons had neither medici