The Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1854-1855, 1855-03-09
GIVE us Female Phy~ictANs


C. NEAVE.
t:l1e us Female Physieian..
The article below is from the \. York Daily
Times of the Goth inst, probably from the pen Of
DR. Tuthill, leading editor of that paper and
himself skillfu and successful pgacticing physi-
cian- Ii females can not study medicine thor
oughly, then throw medicine to the dogs" and
give as the genial care Of women. We have at
tended course of medical lectures; and Judging
from own observation, would much prefer 10
entrust lives TO good hearted old lady, or
young one for that, with her .''arbs'' and
soothing watchful solcitude, than three fourths
OF the youngsters who spend twice sixteen weeks,
nominalIy as medical students, but really as Wild
drinking, gambling bhoys, and then go out and
hang forth their signs with NJ. D., and assume
charge of the health and lives of others We
have hi sh regard for medical science. and would
only entrust ourselves IN the hands ofthe best ed
ucated ply yslcian within our reach: yet from what
we know Of the medical students in this city. and
elsewhere, We think there are but very few eda
Gated physicians. We especially endorse what is
said in regard to the Importance TO women of
knowledge chemistry.---imerican -1griculfurist.
There is a learned profess on in the hands
of men which inclined to think women
will shortly share within them, taking, indeed,
the better half to themselves. We mean the med
ical profession. We have already young
women going through the studies and getting the
+
male medical colleges is spoken of from time 10
time in the journals. In a late paper have
seen that, at Richmond. Virginia, they are about
building expensive establishment of the kind
These things give evidence of what promises TO
be one of the best innovations of the age-one
foundation upon common sense and common feel
ing
/ Women are the fttest physicians for women.
Reason gives them, at stroke, half OF
creation to begin with; and then throws in, along
with this grand division, all the little of the
family of We assume that a woman can
master all the science and mystery Of the healing
art well man--;hough. probably, in the
matter Of epic poetry. mathematics, statesman
ship, or military strategy, she may be obliged
to admit an inferior capacity of mind. Medicine
is not very deep and difficult thing. Care
and common sense are. after all. the grand prin-
clples of successful practice in the management
Of the human constitution; and these qualities
belong as much to the women the men. We
can fancy the strong satisfaction with which wo-
men would hail the quit coming into their sick
rooms of one of their sex-a diplomaed
and experienced woman; the effect of her pres
ence in many eases would g. half way to bring
about the cure. We need not go into parlical
in this argument; the truth of the statement will
be generally admitted. In the Of children,
too. the gentle and womanly care Of doctress
would be the most efhcacious and happy. We
convinced that the doctress, in managing her
patients. would come better to the point and deal
more directly and blunty with the ailments Of
! the young and old Of her sex-or rather.
let us say, the less yoang-than man could do.
She would be less complaisans aud courtly, and
more familiar in her treatment of them, and thus
/ possesses advantages which 40 medical practitioner
. Of the other could hope to compete with
However we look al il, we must conclude that,
for half the worll, women would make better
physicians than men. Nature seems to have de-
cided that. And even FOR half the other half.
sontimes think the doctresses would be bet
ter than the doctors, in dealing with tie griefs
and evils Of the sick rooms.
And, coming from particulars to generals we
would contend that every woman, whether she
designs 10 become a aaedica or not, should have
knowledge of medicine and its effects upon the
human system, of simples. salses and other
full empiricaIs She should also have general
idea OF chemistry. We do not know an accom-
plishment more suited to woman's place in the
world than chemistry-nos even excepting the
piano forte: for knowledge of chemical mix
lures is indispensable TO those who would rightly
understand the nateria nsedtca. Every mistress
of household mother of a family should
know what substances act on others, neutralizing
them and how to send an antidote at after
the bane; TO send for instance, down some be-
loved throat, soda and nagnesia after acids. the
whites Of eggs, lime water or charcoal after arsen-
ic soap and water after corrosive sublimate, soda
or lime after Prussic acid, milk and water after
white yitriol, a solution Of common salt after nj
trate Of silver, &c; making. al the same time.
prompt use Of The mustard cmetic in the major
ity Of such cases, and applying, with Judgment.
hartshorn, brandy other materials, such
would be at hand IN most households a knowl-
edge OF these things. and with it a knowledge of
other domestic recipes and resources, would be
among the best and most admirable requirements
Of woman in any station Of life: and it may be
confidently asserted, that if it were skilfully
praclced, on occasion, ten thousand homes
would be spared the agonies and lamentations
that constantly come. and will come, to darken
their doors and windows Women would be
armed for the most trying emergencies, and be
able to save the lives OF those dear to them, in
stead Of screaming and wringing their hands,
and feeling bitterly that Ignorance is the curse
j of God" And, IN a general way. knowledge
of the laws of health would make every woman
the protecting genius of her household, and teach
her how to treat her children in any sudden case
of sickness accident Especially As regards
children. every mother should De a docsFess.-
The ignorance of parents is fatal TO almost half
the children that come into the world: il is more
jdeadIv and depIorsbie than the vices OF adult
years-than battle murder and sudden death. .