Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1868-12-17
lelaware Tribulle
WON EN- PHYSICIANS.

II gives inc PROFESSIONAL experience OF sew
eral ladies who have studied either in the
colleges of the Irregular" school, or those
established for females, and are now regular
practitioners. Of this number was Miss
Elizabeth Blackwell A friend of hers
twas suffering from painful disease, OF
such a nature that she felt competent
physician of her own sex would be the great
est boon to be desired. She expressed her.
self strongly on the subject to Miss Black
well, who was thereby the more impressed
with the duty and pr0priety of educating
women to be physicians. So 1t was no love
of cccentricity or desire to make herself
conspicuous that inclined her toward the
study OF medicine
In 1912, to secure means, she became
governess in physicians family in North
Carolina. She read his books. and afterwards
those off brother in Charleston, s. G., whittier
she had removed as Il language and music
teacher. Coming TO Philadelphia, she spent
six months in study under Drs. Allen and
Warrington, and then began to apply for
admission to the medical schools. She dis
patched letters to all the prominent colleges
Of the country, "not knowing which might
hit the mark In answer, twelve faculties
refused. Some said woman, by nature, was
assigned to a dependent position, and com
mented with severity on her "unheard-of
presumption, in expecting to take rank in
a "profcsson reserved and consecrated to
the nober sex!" Others thought it would
"be unbecoming and immoral to see
woman instructed in the nature and laws of
her organism" But
s'Finally, the barriers yielded, and the
way was opened to her by the Faculty of
Geneva Medical College in Western New
York Her request having been received
BY lhc iaculty,t was lai1 before the students
Of the college. A consultation was held by
them and they decided to let her be admit.
ted. They also pledged themselves to so act
the part of gentlemen, that she would never
regret the step she had taken.
She Immediately repaired to Geneva, and
the month Of November saw her name in
scrihed in the registry under the number
~ From this time she pursued the neces-
sary Studies with an ardor proporiioned to
The difficulties she must vanquish in order to
g,in a place among the students"
An incident of her student experience is
thus told:-
From the time of her admission to the
school to the time of her final examination,
she entered and departed without appearing
10 see any one around her. Going directly
to her seal. she would sit down, and seem
wholly oblivious to everything about her,
save the professor, and copy book In which
she wrote her notes That she had good
reason to act thus, the following incident
will show: A little time after her admission,
the subject of the lecture was of somewhat
delicate nature. In the midst of the demon
slralion by the professor, to which Elizabeth
listened quietly and attentvely, folded
paper, evidently note, was thrown by one
Of the students behind her, and fell upon her
arm. She felt instinctively that this note
contained some gross raillery, and that all
eses were fixed upon her. Although ii
might no, bc possible for her to continue
the cntirsp, She felt that justice should be
done the intended insult, that IL might not
be- renewed Size made no move, not even
raising her eyes from her notebook, but con-
tinuGa TO write away as if nothing had hap
pencd. When the professor had finished his
lec,ure, She closed her book, then SLOWLY
raised her arm on which rested the billet, SO
tlat all present might see her movement, she
caused il TO TALL to the floor with an expires
son Of dignitied scorn and disdain. This
manner of acting was altogether protesta-
ton MS well as an appeal. From all ranks
/ ot The students came enthusiastic paudits
for the conduct of the young woman, and ol
hisSea for that of the base aggressors. Dur.
iue this scent, Elizabeth took no more no
liee Of the kind demonstration that she hat
Of the Intended insult. 1t need hardly be
/ added that from this time forth she nave
as3ii sufered from any kindred annoyance.
She had many other trials She had grea
difficulty in procuring boarding place, be
c,ase the prpprietois feared it would be 81
disrt insult to their guests" When sh
passed along the streets, merchants called t
each other to look at her, and the little boy
amused themselves with shouting afttr hei
But she lived down most of it, and finall
sc graduated with high honor. Her thesis
"sliip-teyer," was 50 fine production tina
i was solicited for publication and publishe
at the expense Of the faculty. From ls4!
ID 1851, she studied in Paris and Londor
aid upon her return located in New Yorl
At first, physicians refused to receiy
her i'll consultation. Household proprietoi
either would not lease her apartments, {
would ask her an exhorbtant price, undt
the prctcxt that a woman doctor in the
dwellings, would be prejudicial TO their il
teresis. Some would send away the sic
who came and asked for her; others wou
neglect to give her the messages left for he
Away from her friends, she passed the fe
years of her life in New York in cruel isol
ton. Finally, her indomtable perscveran
and self-control again triumphed over obst
elcs. Two OF the most celebrated physical
of The city, having learned to appreciate Ii
worth and the extent other medical lear
ing, declared they would meet her in consl
talion whenever an occasion offered or
manded Thencct.rih her situation W
greatly modified.
She now has widely extended and We
lucrative practice
Another ''innovator' was Sarah r. Ada
son, Quaker girl, of Chester Co. Per
Her mind, at the age oftifteen, was awake
cd to the question of woman's ''sphcre," q
means of livelihood. Acquaintance W
Grace Anna Lewis, the ornithologist, a
education in her select school increased I
spirit Of inquiry.
One day her teacher, ever awake to the
terest aud advancement of her pupils,
quired if she would not like to study ply
ology. This was long word TO Sarah, q
new one, so she took the book home W
her to decide. That evening in the quiet
her room, she opened the book and beg
TO read. The chapter on digestion absorl
her; then that on the circulation OF
blood She read on and on, the book fa'
mating her like some splendid romance,
Ill in her enthusiasm, she exclaimed y
Icka." and sought her pillow with the pes
fnness that comes from n solved problem
The study of medicine was to be her w
the practice of it her ambition, and sufel
humanity her household.
She wrote to her uncle DIR. Hiram Cori
Of Montgomery county, to become his
dent. He at first discouraged her. till
was convinced how strong was her purp
and then received her. But her studies
ing ended, she could get into no regular
lege. The Philadelphia Colleges poll
ieiused. Even Geneva College, where
blackwell had graduated the year bel
wrote that her reception was an ''exl
ment not precedent"