New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-11-23
WOMEN At THE CLINICS.

REMONsTRANCE AGAINST MIXED CLINICS FROM
TWO HUNDRED DOCTORS.
A meeting was convened, on the 10Th inst,
at the University of Pennsyya to consider the sub
feet OF clinical instruction mixed classes OF male and
female students of medicine The result OF this meeting
has Just been published by the Philadelphia papers The
following remonstrance unanimously adopted and
signed by the Faculties Of the Uniyersy ofrennsyvana
OF jefferson Medical College by the medical stats Of va
rlous hospitals Of Philadelphia and By the members OF
the profession at large numbering altogether nearly 200
physicians
The undersigned professors in the University OF Penn
sviyonia nrofessora In Jefferson Medical College mon.
hers Of the medical stats OF various hospitals OF Phadc
phia and members OF the medical profession ia Iade
the Interest OF the public feel It 10 be their duty at
the present time to express their COnycOns upon te
subject Of clinical instruction 10 mixed classes OF male
and female students OF medicine.
They induced 10 present their views upon TINS cues
ton which is OF grave Importance 10 medical educa
ton from that II il misunderstood by the public
and because attempt Is now being made 10 IOrce ~
before the community In shape which they conceive to
be INJURIOUS 10 progress OF medical science ana 10 tho
efficiency Of clinical teaching Ihey have no hssltIon
in declaring that their deliberate conviction Is adverse 70
conducting clinical instruction In the presence OF students
Of both The Judgment that has been arrived az Is
based upon the following considerations:
/. Clinical instruction In practical medicine dcmahd'
examination Of all the organs and parts OF the Dolly
as far as practicaIe. hehce peisohsi APosuI. n,
for this purpose often matter Of absolute necessity
cannot be assumed by any M pelS1 b, 5a.
class OF females, although this inspection may without
",
sex thorough investigation, as Wo AS demonstration,
these necessary To render INSTRUCTION com
pete and efectye-is by mixed audience. proCuded:
while the clinical lecturer is restrained and embarrassed
i'm ms nduires and must therefore fall short IN the con
clusions which no may draw aud IN the instruction
which he communicates
In many operations upon male patients. exposure OF
the body Is inevitable, and demonstrations must DO made
which arc untitled for the observation OF tho opposite
sex These expOsitiOns, when made under the eye OF
such conjoued assemblaRe, are shocking 20 tue sense
and entail the risk OF unmanning the gcOn
OF his mind, and endaDgeriug the life or the
patient Beside this large class OF surgical diseases OF
the Is OF delicate nature Us altogether To Tor
bid inspection by female students Yet complete un-
derstadng OF this particular class OF dseasoss OF pre-
eminent importance to the community Moreover snch
affections can thoroughly studied only III tho Clinics OF
large cities, and the opportunity for studying the M
far Tomi being curtaed, should be extended 70 the
utmost possible degree. To those who familiar with
such here alluded to- 10 Is incOEceyaDie tAbJ
females should be called 10 their treatment.
g. BY the iOiut participation on the part OF male ana
female students In the instruction and IN the deOhsd
tiOns which properly belong 20 tho Clinical Lecture
Room barrier OF respect h broken down, ana that
high estimation OF wOmanly qualities which should
always be sustained and cherished, and which has is
origin In domestic and social associations, Is lost ny an
inevitable and positive Generalization OF the individuals
concerned thereby entaing most serious derment 70
the morals of society
In view OF the above considerations, the sgners earn
esty and sOemny protest against the admixture OF tho
clinical instruction ia medicine ana surgery and
do respectfully lay these their views before the Boards Oh
Managers Of the hospitals In Philadelphia