Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1849-05-03
Elizabeth blackwell, M. ID.

pretty generally informed that this LADY was req
MAR student of Geneva Medical College, and re-
celved the diploma of that institution at its last
commencement. As she is the first medical doc
tor, OF her sex in the United States the case is
naturally enough one of those questionable mat
tefs upon which there must be great variety of
opinions, and the public sentiment is, besides in
tiuenced by the partial and inaccurate statements
OF facts and conjectures which usually supply the
place Of correct information.
Miss b. is % years of age. She was born in
the city of Bistol, England. Her father settled
with his family in New York when she was abou,
II years DID, After a residence there of FIVE or
six years, he failed in business, and moved to
Cincinnati. A few weeks after his arrival there
he died, leaving his widow and nine children in
very embarrassed circumstances Elizabeth. the
third daughter, was then IL years, and assisted
two OF her sisters in teaching young lady's sem.
mary. BY the joint efforts the elder children,
the younger members of the family were supported
and educated, and comfortable homestead on
Walnuthill was secured for the family. The
property which, in the midst of their first difficult
ties, they had the forecast to purchase has already
quadrupled the price which it cost them. give
this for the illustration of character which it af-
fords.
The enterprise of these young ladies is still far
ther indicated by the next steps which they sew
orally took. Anna, the eldest, some years ago
took up her residence in the city of New York,
where she has until lately worked the trade of De-
rodical authorship. French translator, and COM
poser Of music. She is now in England, under an
engagement with publisher there to translate
the whole of Fourier's works. She was selected
for this task for her very high ability in French
translation, and the excellence of her English
style. Another sister Emily, is teaching a boys
school in Cincinnati, preparing them for college
in the departments of Mathematics and the clas-
sic languages. And Elizabeth after two or three
years hard labor and study in North and South
Carolina, and two years more, exclusively devo-
ted to the study of medicine, in Philadelphia and
Geneva, has her medical diploma in her pocket
About five years ago she first entertained the
idea of devoting herself to the study of medicine
Having taken the resolution, she went vigorously
20 work 10 effect It. She commenced the study
Of Greek, and persevered until she could read it
satisfactorily. and revived her Latin by devoting
three or four hours day to it, until she had both
sufficiently for all ordinary and professional pur-
poses French she had taught, and studied Ger
man to crafty her fondness for its modern liiera
ture. The former she speaks with fuency and
translates the latter elegantly, and manage to
read Italian prose pretty well.
80 ~
of making the most money in the shortest time,
she set cut for North Carolina, and after some
months teaching French and music, and reading
medicine with DIR. John Dickson at Asheville,
she removed to Charleston Here she taught
music alone. and read industriously under the d.
rection OF DR.. Samuel H. Dickson, then redi-
dent of Charleston, and now Professor of practice
in the University of New York.
Two wears ago she came to Philadelphia, for
the purpose of pursuing the study. That Sum-
mer, Dr. J. NJ. Allen, Professor of Anatomy, af-
forded her excellent opportunities for dissection,
in his private anatomical rooms. The Winter
following she attended her first full course of lee
lures at Geneva. The next summer she resided
at the Blockley Hospital, Philadelphia, where she
had the klndeSt attentions from Or. Deheolct Tie
principal physician, and the very large range for
observation which its great variety and number
of cases afford Last winter she attended her
second course at Geneva, and graduated regular
Iy at the close of the session. Her thesis was
upon ship fever, which she had ample opportuni-
ties for observing at Blockley 1t was so ably
written that the Faculty of Geneva determined to
give it publication
1t is in keeping with my idea of this story to
add that the proceeds of her own industry have
been adequate to the entire expense of her medl-
cal education-about eight hundred dollars
In few weeks she will leave for Paris, with
the design of remaining there one or two years.
hoping to obtain there still greater facilities for
the farther study of her profession than this cou
try affords especially in the department of sur
oerv. which she has had but little opportunity to
see.
s She will return when this purpose is accom-
nlisbed to practice medicine in all its branches
and will probably settle in the City Of New York
National Era.