Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1858-12-04
Mistellaneous
From Chambers Edinburg journal, for July, 1888
MEDICAL WOMEN.

MEDICAL WOMEN.
In a recent number Of our journal, we took oc'
casion TO make further known tho very interesting
history Of the education oi Dr. Elizabeth Black
we'll, Of New York, the first women, or certainly
the FIRST English wumau, VITO has become a regular
diplomacd physician. Such trials and difficulties
us that lady had to go through and overcome, are
now hapoily at AZ eud for all others Of her sex
who contemplate making themselves useful to hu
mainly AS healets Of disease. y female Medical
College of the sort which DIR Blackwell, in 1859
trusted to see instituted "in course OF time'-ha'
been established ia Philadelphia for some seven
years, and We hold in our hands The NaieIietory
Address to its students, Cf Ann Preston, NJ u
Professor Ct Physiology aud Hygiene. This seems
to US to be a prudent as we'll rs an eloquent com
position. There is no indignant defamation about
woman's wrongs, or alleged intellectual inleriorlty'
and no ambitio US exultaticn at the idea OF medical
men being supplanted by medical women. The
sphere of the new practitioners is declared TO DC
mainly confined to the sufferers among their own
sex, who care especially the victims OF a wrong
hygenic condition, and need medical advisers with
whom they can commune freely" and by whom
they can be physiologically Instructed. In the
appeal of the COrporators" Of the College, affixed
TO the Valedictory Address, this point is also judi
ciously urged
"Tbey consider that woman, as a wife and moth
ar. eminent ly needs n clear understanding Of
the funtions Of the human body aud the means OF
preserving health aud that heightened aud intel
ligen. female physicians, from their relations to
their sex, must be the most important instrument
alities in impartiDg such knowledge, where 1t Is
most nee led and will do the most good.
at is well known that there is q vast amount OF
suffering among women, which is left without re-
lief, from the shrinking delicaoy OF its victims. and
it is therefore a demand of humanity that women
should be put in possession of the requisite knowl-
edge TO administer the required treatment in such
cases."
Indeed, among the more liberal of the faculty
here in England. we have often heard 1T admitted
that women would be, for many reasons, Tar hitter
medical attendants upon their own sex than men
"but," added these ungallant sons of Esculapius
Though we believe they have nerve and intellI
gence in plenty, we fear they have their crotchetS
we scarcely ever knew a woman of mind without
some twist in it," DR.. Ann Preston, however, at
fords an example of one who has either been borr
WltnOul u lhlht, VI huOoO liOlVSo'Oh"'
has enabled her considerably to rectify it sh'
gives satisfactory evidence, too, upon another mat
te., concerning which the ladies have been ma
ligned.
notwithstanding the common reproach tina
women are ungenerous to women, and that the.
exhibit pettiness in transactions of business, \ al
glad to be able to tell you that in my irtercours
with them l have found, with few exceptions, tn
reverse to be true nobleness, generosity and sym
patty all unhoped for, have been largely nantes
ed, and my professional experience has deepene
my respect and regard for women and for human
ity.
Ladies, if you prove yourselves capable an
worthy, as we believe you will, society ls ready
receive you on every side the demand for you
services is becoming more imperative.
"But you must not expect a lucrative practice
spring up in a day. Solid superstructures are ii
work of time and slowly, carefully, woman all
must work her way, building up the reputatic
which is her professional capital"
The opposition which these female practitione
have had to encounter, has, of course been vel
considerable and even now, the Professor war;
her Glass, of the unacknowledged, or but ha
Acknowledged, position which they needs mu
occupy.
THAT sympathy and assistance from older mer
bers Of the fraternity, which the unexperienc,
practitioner so much needs, will indeed be give
you by many of the wise ard good even nov
numbers OF those who are recognized as etandll
among the highest in the profession. will meet "
freely in consultation tut still, we cannot ignu
the tact that, as Il body Physicians have not y
welcomed woman into their ranks as a neediul
desirable auxiliary"
After stating Fees, &c, Chambers says: "a d
partment of remunerative and virtuOus activity
indeed thus opened, with very moderate outlay,
females. Aud we cordially agree with Profess
Ann Preston, that those women who show thel
selves competent for the medical profession, d
serve without doubt, to succeed in it.
Stiffness and capability will vindicate taemsclv
against the world they are Gods endorsement
the rightful in any position"