The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1856-07-12
Female Physicians.

i1g Medical Colleges foor wmen, and the ut
terance Of a conviction of its necessity was
sufficient to call down torrents of abuse ;
wlich particular or feature still exists, though
in comparatively limited degree. Man
kind have for SO long time been taught 10
believe that woman was created merely for
kitchen and nursery purposes, that an in
novalion upon this belief and the general Gus
tom founded upon it, very naturally excited
the condemnation of the thoughtless, as well
as those who had been taught to think as
did their fathers, back TO the first genera
ton.
Necessity is said to be the mother Of in
vention, and it may with equal truth be
quoted as the source from whence all the
powers of woman are to be developed Her
powers of patient endurance, christian forti-
tude, and all those jewels of virtue which
adorn and elevate a true christian, have
been thoroughly developed and most strin-
gently tested, holding good to the last un,
til she is more freely acknowledged bv man
to be vastly his superior in all the finer graces
of social life. STILL it is contended bv many
that for all these excellent traits of character,
she is more indebted 10 nature than to rea-
son-that they are instructive qualities which
she cannot avoid, while man only acquires
them by the exercise Of his superior judg-
ment and industry. We cannot pause here
to disst ct this error.
1t is hut comparatively a short time since
woman has been allowed to enter the field
Of literature, as author, and we have no works
of distinction from female pens dating prior
to the nineteenth century. The kitchen and
the nursery was then strictly her field of op-
Grafton, and the firm iron wall of tyrannic
opinion kept her within this enclosure mere
ly as an instrument created by God for mans
happiness and to perpetuate his species. A
great change has taken placa since those
days. Woman now takes her position in the
front rank Of authors, and well does she
sustain her part Indeed the production of
Harriet Beecher Stowe, Uncle Toms Cab
in" has been read and admired by more
persons than any book Of the present age
which had its origin in The brain of one Of
the " lords Of creation" So complete has
been woman's triumph in this field of use
fulness, that not one among all the old fogics
can now be found who would consent 10 abol.
ish the privilege which has been granted her
to use the press. Indeed, should this priyi-
lege be Withdrawn, the literature Of the pres
ent day would be gloomy and sterile as a
bachelors hall
With these facts, and a thousand others
before us, how can we reasonably object to
womans education in the useful as well as
the ornamental She has entered upon no
duties without success, and all her efforts
have brought honor upon her head. There
can, then, be no harm in letting her reach
still beyond the limits now prescribed, if in
deed man has the right or the power to 9, ant
these privileges.
We remarked that necessity was the sourcc
from whence woman would develop her pow
ers, The disposition Of man to grasp after
wealth, even at the sacrifice CT the health,
happiness, and lives of innocent and almost
helpless females, has compelled them to open
unto themselves the doors of general useful
ness which have for centuries been closed
against them. Such is now her position, tha
poor woman is the most completely help
less of all earthly beings. Society confines
so many of them within such small sphere,
tina. they can each have but little to do, and
such is the competition that the pay would
} not keep them comfortable could they be
employed constantly. To be respectable in
the eyes of community, she must conform TO
certain rules of dress, which her position en-
tirely foIbids, and therefore she resorts to
vice, crime, and every conceivable device for
that appearance in dress which is more pleas
ing in the eyes of community than virtuous
and honest heart
Every philanthropist, therefore, mu,thai
with delight the breaking of those shackles
which enslave woman, and joice in the ex-
pansion of her field of labor and usefulne. S.
Hence we have watched with much interest
and satisfaction the growth of the Female
Medical College of Pennsylvania. located at
| Philadelphia. Through the polteness of the
faculty, we have received the Seventh Annual
announcement, for the Session of $685.
The catalogue of students, the remarks
of the Dean, and the appeal of the Corpora
tors, all give evidence Of encouraging scccess
The Dean says
"The demand for well educated female
physicians is increasing rapidly, and every
where high and honorable rank in the pro-