The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-12-14
MEDICINES VETERAN.
DR.. Kitchen of Philadelphia Is the Oldest
Doctor in the Country.

DR.. Kitchen of Philadelphia Is the Oldest
Doctor in the Country.
On March Sth next DR.. James Kitchen of
us Spruce street will complete his ninety
second year, says the Philadelphia Record,
having been born in 1900, and the June fol-
lowing will mark the SEVENTEEN anniversary
of his graduation as a physician from the
University of Pennsylvania. DIR. Kitchen
is undoubtedly tho Oldest practitioner in the
Guy, ANA PERHAPS III tue country.
DR.. Kitchens father, James Kitchen,
came to Philadelphia from Wales in 1890,
and was the proprietor Of famous resort
in the latter part of the last century and
early in this, known as the Merchants Ex-
change.
The young James was born in honse on
what is now known as Second street, near
Walnut He graduated from the library
department of the University in 1919 and
after taking medical course and gradual
ing in 1922, went to Europe, studying in the
schools and hospitals of France, England,
Scotland and Holland, returning to Phila-
delphia in 1924, when he at once began the
practice of medicine, and has continued
ever since, enjoying large practice. In
1S32 DR.. Kitchen became convert to the
school of homeopathy, and still adheres
to it.
Dr. Kitchen is man of average height
His eyes are still bright, but his white
beard and long white hair give him
venerable appearance. He has enjoyed
remarkable health, but when the grip swept
over the country he fell victim and his
hearing and sight were slightly affected by
it, though he can even now read ordinary
print without the use OF glasses.
when | was BORN said the doctor,
philadelphia was a town OF 10000 people,
and now lave seen an increase of over q
million. This house where | now live first
moved into in 1S53 II was built In 1899 hv
Canton merchant named Whitney, who
spent two years in completing it, At that
time that ground on the other side Of the
street now occupied by row of tbree-story
brick houses was corn field, inclOsed by
an ordinary rail fence.
whitney broke and never occupied the
house, spending the latter years of his life
in an asy lum In those days Philadelphia
| monopuliZed the trade of America, and here
| lived many wealthy merchants who carried
on trade with foreign nations. Whitney
owned number OF sailing vessels which
| traded at Canton, China. and East India
| ports. Every spring the Philadelphia mer-
chants had auction sales, the amount re-
| allied running from Sl0000,000 to $40, 000-
| coo.
about 1928, however, the craze for in
ternal improvements set in and the Pennsyl-
| vania Legislature determined to construct a
number of canals. The question of course
arose as to how the money was to be raised.
| and it was decided 10 levy tax of 81 on
every S100 worth of goods imported into
| Philadelphia. The canals were constructed,
but many merchants were broken, and trade
at once began to drift to New York, Boston
| and other ports.
There has been wonderful change in
| Philadelphia since my boyhood days. All
OF my early friends are dead. None re-
| main at all, with the exception of my sister,
who, lives with me, and who is 81 years OF
~