Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1868-04-03
MoMEN as PHYsIcIANs.


Ii Is onlya few years since women have be
gun 20 look to the practice of medicine as
profession; but there are already conSld-
cradle numbers of educated capable female
physicians. Ii IS believed that there are
now more than three hundred female physi-
clans In tais country, and there Is reason 20
believe that in time considerable proper
tion Of the physicians in this country win be
women. Ii is difficult 70 ascertain how
many regularly educated female physicians
there are In New York, as many women
have taken up theproisssi0u HithoG having
had a regular medical eduCatlon.
Opposition has been made. both ia this
country aud in England to women pFactls.
ing or studying medicine. When Miss
Nightingale undertook 10 prepare herself
for the education of nurses, there was nOln-
stltutjoR IN England suited for her wants
and she had to go to Germaay 10 study la
1886, Miss Merton White applied at four
teen Of the London medical Institutions for
admIttance to the benefits Of their Instruc-
. ton, but her request was refused By every
( one of them, though several were legally
bound BY their charter to receive her.
Miss GarFet. another English lady, obtain
ed adnlittaace To the Apothecaries Hall by
legal coUpulsion, having influence aud
means sufficient 70 secure her rights, but
was forced 20 pay ten times the ordinary
fees IN order 70 pass through the course OF
study
4 number Of Institutions for the education
Of nurses have been established in England,
one Of the largest Of which Is in Liverpool;
+ it contains sixty women. No objection has
ever been made to women becoming nurses;
and it would seem that they should De
equally fit 10 become physicians In medl-
cine, SIS 10 nearly every other profession,
women have had 10 contend against many
obstacles, yet are succeeding IN spite otthem.
Their means of education have been inferior
TO those afforded 20 men, and have been
made still worse by poor accommodations
inefficient instructors, and limited facilities
for dissection. Another great impedlmeBt
In their way is the want Of opportunities
/ for assoeiating with other students and dis
cussiug difficult points in their studies
which men can always enjoy.
Women, having personal knowledge OF
their own organization, and thoroughly I'M
derstaudingits working and disorders ought,
if thoroughly educated, 10 be even better
fitted TO prescribe for and cure diseases
I peculiar TO their sex, than men, who must
gather ali their evidence from hearsay, or
[ from external symptoms
Z Al - eaA4G----a4-z4 4i lA s-A AAAAsll4-
/ against women becoming physicians that
I they have not enough nerve, and would fail
/ in performing dissections and surgical Op-
I erations. or in treating serious cases But
( Il Is probable that women well trained have
/ as much nerve as men. The female nurses
n the English hospitals assist during sur
gieal treatment as efficiently as men, and
women in this country have performed
/ operations Of the severest kind with perfect
success. During a very moving dsmonsTa-
I ton hy DR. Wood at Bellevue Hospital, at
which thirty-fve women ard over eighty
I young men were present, nearly dozen of
/ the latter had to leave the room, but not one
/ Of the former gave way. Every person who
1 has had any medical experience can fecall
cases where women ia the sick room have
I shown remarkable ability and eoolness. In
England, Miss White, afterwards an ad-
milable physician, first attracted attention
( by her skill in setting broken limb, and
was advised by her family physician to study
medicine
Medicine IS perhaps the only profession
/ in which women have assumed a perfect
equality with men. Their charges are the
same. and they have in general demanded
! all the privileges and rights of male prac-
/ titgoners-