Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1849-05-03
CRANSTON 4 NORMAN.
Friday, April az.

aii-ady mentioned this young lady as having
received diploma from the Geneva Medical
College, and now extract the following sketch
Of her life from the National Era as she is
the first medical Doctor of her sex in the Uni
led States, The case is, naturally enough, ore
ofthose questionable matters in which there
must be great variety Of opinions, but al
must admire Miss Blackwell's perseverance
and application
:" Miss B. Is twenty.eight ycals of age
She was born in the city of Bristol, England
Her father settled with his family in New
York when she was about eleven years old
itter residence there Of five or six years, he
failed in business, and removed TO Cincinnati
A few weeks after his arrival there he died, A.,
leaving his widow and nine children in very
EMBARRASSED circumstances. Elizabeth, the
third daughter, was then sevcntccn years Of
age, and assisted two Of her sisters in teaching
young lady seminary. by the joint efforts
ct,he elder children, the younger members of
the family were supported and educated, and
comfortable 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 already
quadrupled the prlcc which it cost them. |
give this fact for the Illustration Of character
which it affords The enterprise of !hese
young ladies' is still farther indicated by the
next steps which they sevcraily took, Anna,
the eldest some years ago took up hcr resi-
d:.cv in the city of New York, where she has
until lately worked a, the trade Of periodical
authorship, French translation, and composer
ofmusic. She is now in England, under an
engagement with publisher there TO trans
late the whole Of Founer'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 boys school in Cincinnati, prcpar-
ing them for College in the departments of
mathematics and the classic languages And
Elizabeth, after two or three years hard study
in North and South Carolina, and two years
more exclusively devoted to the study of medi-
zine, in Philadelphia and Geneva, has her
medical diploma in her pocket.
About five years ago she first ente7ancdthe
idea of dcvotng herself to the study of medi-
tse. Having taken the resolution, she went
vigorously to work TO effect it, She COM
menced the study Of Greek, and presevcred
till she could read it satisfactorily, and review
ed her Latin by devoting three or four hours a
day to it, until she had both sufficiently for all
ordinary and professional purposes. French
SHE had taught, and studied German TO crafty
her fondness for its modern literature. The
former she speaks with fluency, and translates
the latter elegantly, and can manage TO read
Italian prose pretty well.
Early in the spring of 1915, for the purpose
Of making the most money in the shortest
H. e, she set ou, for North Carolina and, after
teaching French and music, and reading med
iclne with Dr. John Dickson at Asheyille, she
under the direction of DR.. Samuel II. Dickson,
then resident Of Charleston, and now protes-
sor of practice in the University of New York
. Two years ago she came to Philadelphia for
the .purpoee OF pushing the study. That
summer DR.. j. NJ Allen, professor Of anatomy,
afforded her excellent opportunities for disscc-
ton, in his private anatomical rooms. The
winter following she attended her first full
course Of lectures at Geneva. Tho next sum-
NOR she resided at The Bockley Hospital,
where she had the kindcst attentions from DR.
Benedict, the principal physician, and the very
largo range for observation which its great
t,ric,y and number of cases afford Last
winter she attended her second course at Gen
eva. and graduated reglarly at the close of the
session. Her thesis was upon ship fever,
whyh sho had ample opportunities for ob'erv
,nr a, Blockloy. Ii was 50 aJ'y written that
the faculty Of Geneva determined to give 1t
pu6lic.dS
Il is in keeping with my idea Of the story to
add that the proceeds Of her own industry have
been adequate TO the entire expense of her
melicll education about eight hundred dol
hrs
ina ieV weeks size vil leave for Paris,
IN the design of remnsne there ono or two
.,,r,. heri,s 10 obtain ihcretull greater fail.