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18th Century America ‘Verse

Born in central Poland in 1746, Aron Samul came to America in the 1760s after the sudden death of his mother, where he lived in New Jersey with a family friend. His mother’s interest in languages paid off, because Aron was able to act as a translator in his family friend’s business, and earned enough in his own right to pay  his way into learning medicine a the College of New Jersey. Although he was Jewish, he converted to Presbyterianism to fit in better in his new home; in truth, he was never really a true believer in God, but appreciated the community feigning a belief granted him.

He practiced medicine for a time in New Jersey, but--despite his passing belief in Republicanism--the rising tensions of the colonies unsettled him. When war did break out, his intention was to treat injured soldiers regardless of what side they were on. Eventually, however, he began to side with the patriots, and became a surgeon at Valley Forge, an assignment which both made him aware of his limitations as a doctor while at the same time leading him to become interested in mental ailments.

After the war, he attempted to continue his work as a doctor in New Jersey, but had become too disturbed by his experiences during the war. He once again became something of a translator for the various associates he’d gained during the war--first in New Jersey and eventually in New York. As he came to know others who were having difficulties coping with memories of the war, he became fascinated that some veterans were able to continue on, while others were tormented by their memories. 

When one of the men he’d known at Valley Forge committed suicide due to the trauma from what they’d experienced, Dr. Samul could do nothing but try his best to understand the causes, and became obsessed with the concept of suicide.

When the Hospital of New York was finally built in the 1790s, Dr. Samul found his perfect fit. He remained working there with the mentally ill for the rest of his life.

[draronsamul]

If I’ve recently unfollowed you and then immediately followed you again, it’s because I’m clearing out inactive blogs and keep going a little too fast and unfollowing people I didn’t mean to. APOLOGIES. I’ll be finished soon.

[draronsamul]

L.M. Montgomery, Anne of the Island

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[draronsamul]

Getting this guy going again. My main blog these days is @the10dollar, but I have been missing Aron.

I have gone through and cleared out all my old threads and unfollowed a bunch of blogs to get a fresh start.

[draronsamul]

[open]

Dr. Samul was lost in his own thoughts, which was happening more and more often these days. Not any thoughts in particular, Mundane things, over and over, in needless detail.

There was a reason, surely. If a patient told him that they were feeling like he was, he’d have them talk it out, track down that reason and explore it. When it came to himself, however, he had no interest.

Still, it was annoying to be startled out of his pointless thoughts so often.

“Excuse me, what was that again?”

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[open]

“Excuse me, but I’m not at work right now. I’d rather not try to fix everyone’s problems when I’m off the clock.”

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Jennifer Niven, All the Bright Places

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All I ever wanted to do      Was some good in this world           And I did try                God did I try.

[draronsamul]

James Urbaniak in Kidnapped Epiosde 1

[draronsamul]

Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.

Carl Jung (via cyclingbum)

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[draronsamul]

  ❝sнᴏᴡ мᴇ ᴀ ѕᴀɴᴇ мᴀɴ                                                    ᴀɴᴅ ι ᴡιʟʟ ᴄυʀᴇ нιм ғᴏʀ ʏᴏυ.❞

[draronsamul]

The tragedy is not to die, but to be wasted.

William Blake (via ofrisks)