Samuel A. Cartwright

Samuelcartwright

Samuel A. Cartwright
Born	November 3, 1793 Fairfield District, South Carolina
Died	May 2, 1863 Jackson, Mississippi
Nationality	American
Occupation	Physician

Samuel Adolphus Cartwright (November 3, 1793 – May 2, 1863) was a 19th-century American physician known for his controversial theories on race and medicine. He is most infamous for his advocacy of the pseudoscientific concept of drapetomania, a supposed mental illness that he claimed caused enslaved Africans to flee captivity.

Early Life and Education

Cartwright was born in Fairfield District, South Carolina. He studied medicine under Dr. Benjamin Rush in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and later attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned his medical degree in 1820.

Medical Career

Cartwright practiced medicine in Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. He became a prominent figure in the medical community of the Southern United States and was a member of the Medical Association of Louisiana.

Theories on Race and Medicine

Cartwright is best known for his theories on race, which were used to justify the institution of slavery in the United States. He coined the term "drapetomania" to describe the supposed mental illness that caused enslaved Africans to flee captivity. He also described another condition, "dysaesthesia aethiopica," which he claimed was a disease peculiar to African Americans that caused lethargy and a lack of work ethic.

Drapetomania

Cartwright's concept of drapetomania was widely criticized and is now considered an example of pseudoscience. He suggested that the condition could be prevented by treating enslaved people kindly and by keeping them in a submissive state.

Dysaesthesia Aethiopica

Cartwright described dysaesthesia aethiopica as a disease that affected the mind and body of African Americans, causing them to be lazy and resistant to labor. He recommended whipping as a treatment for this supposed condition.

Legacy

Cartwright's work has been discredited and is viewed as an example of the misuse of medical science to support racist ideologies. His theories are often cited in discussions of the history of scientific racism and the role of medicine in perpetuating social injustices.

Death

Samuel A. Cartwright died on May 2, 1863, in Jackson, Mississippi.

See Also

• Scientific racism
• History of medicine
• Slavery in the United States
• Pseudoscience