Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1849-04-25
F,om The National Efs.
Elizabeth Blackwell, II. e.

F.om The National Ets.
Elizabeth Blackwell, N. e.
The public. through the newspapers.
has been pretty generally informed that
this lady was a regular student of Gene
va Medical College. and received the ,ii-
ploma of that institution at lis lest COM
mencement. As she is the first Medical
Doctor of her sex in the United States. the
case is. naturally enough. ons OF those
questionable matters upon which there
must be a great variety of opinions. AMI
the public sentiment is, besides, influenced
by the partial and inaccurate statements
of facts and conlectures which usually
supply the place OF correct inform atio...--
To help your readers TO better under.
standing Of the whole matter they can
gather from these unc crtain resources,
and especially TO inform those who feel
something beyond merely curious intcr-
est in it. venture to furnish you a hastv
sketch Of her course. and such notions Of
herself and Of her aims as the proprie;ics
Of the case seem to warrant
! Miss b. is twenty eight wears Of age.
She was born in the city OF Bristol. Eng.
Her father settled with his family in New
York when she was about eleven wears
years. he failed in business, and removed
to Cincinnati A few weeks after his nrri.
val there. he died, leaving his widow and
nine children in very embarrassed cir
cumstances. Elijah eth. the third daughter
was then seventeen years Of age. During
the ensuing seven years, she assisted two
: OF her sisters in teaching young lady's
seminary. by the joint efforts Of the ell
der children, the younger members Of the
family were supported and educated. and
a comfortab bic homestead on Walnut Hill
was secured for the family. The property
which, in the midst of their first difficulties
they had the forecast to purchase, has AL
ready quadrupled the price which it cost
them. give this fact for the illustration
of character which it affords. The en-.
terprise Of these young ladies is still fur.
Their indicated by the next steps which
they severally took. Anna, the eldest.
some years ago took ~r her sd-ricc IN
the city Of New York, where she has until
, lately worked ut the trade Of periodical
e authorship, French translation. and COM
s poser Of music. She is now in England.
= under an engagement with a publisher
4 there, to translate the whole Of Fourier's
J. works. She was selected for this task for
Il her very high ability in French iransla-
: ton, and the excellence Of her English
!; STYLE. Another sister. Emily. is teaching
i boys school in Cincinnati, preparing
n them for college in the Departments OF
}. mathematics and the classic languages
And Elizabeth. after two or three years
n hard labor and study in North and South
l. Carolina. and two years more. exclusive
s ly devoted to tho study Of medicine, ir
o Philadelphia and Geneva, has her ,ncdi.
i'll -, hor OoDlot
q About five years ago she first entertain
e ed the idea OF devoting herself to the
IF study of medicine. Having taken the
/. resolution, she went vigorously to work to
at effect it. She commenced the study OF
r Greek and pcrsevered until she could read
it it satisfactorily, and revived her Latin bv
IS devoting three or four hours a day to il,
at until she had both sufficiently for all ordi.
at nary and professional purposes. French
r, she had taught, and studied Ger
y man to CRAFTY her fondncss for its modern
e literature. The former she speaks with
= fluency, and translates the latter elegant
2 ", and can manage TO read Italian prose
c pretty we'll
n Early in the spring Of 10. for the pur-
pose Of making the most money in the
- shorte st time, she set out for North Caro-
v lima, and, after some month teaching
IS French and music. and reading medicine
d with DR.. John Dickson at AsiIevllc. she
r removed to Charleston. Here she Taught
v music alone. and read ndustriously un-
1: der the direction Of Do. Samuel H. Dick.
- son, then a resident Of Charleston. anL
l. now Professor Of Practice in the Un;ver-
l. sitv Of New York. Two years ago sire
e came to Philadelphia. for the purpose Of
l. pursuing the study. Tina. summer, Dr.
= j. NJ. Alien. Professor Of Antony, al
!, forded her excellent opportunities for dis
a syction in his private anatomical rooms
&c The winter following. she attended her
e first full course Of lectures at Geneva
y The next summer. she resided at Block
+ ley Hospital. Philadelphia. where she
:. had the kindest attentions from DR.. Ben.
s. edic.. the Principal Physician. and The
{, very large range for observation which ifs
T. great variety and number Of cases affords
At Last winter, she attended her second
course at Geneva. and graduated regular
10 ~ at the close Of the session. Her thesis
e was upon Ship Fever. which she had am
pie opportunities for observing at Block.
y ley. Il was so ably written, that the Fac
e ulty Of Geneva determined to give it pub
h LEGATION.
IS Il is in keeping with my idea Of this
!. story to add, that the proceeds Of her
n own industry have been adequate to the
}. entire expense Of her medical education
: about eigh, hundred dollars
h In a few weeks she will leave for Paris.
|; with the design Of remaining there one or
l. two years. hoping to obtain there still
: greater facilities for the farther study Of
: her profession than this country affords:
especially in the department Of surgery.
$ which she has had but little opportunity
e to see.
# She will return when this purpose il
II accomplished, to practice medicine IL sli
k its branches. and will probably sestle IL.