Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-07-02
Medical Education of woman.

From the Herald of HEALTH
The point i wish to impress is, thai
medical knowledge is eminently practi
cal for women, whether in public OF
private life, whatever their estate, whether
high Or low, rich or poor; that this in
telligence will make them better as
wives, mothers, aunts, missionaries
teachers, etc. When their homes hold
no piano, or their busy fingers find no
leisure for the keys, the harp of a
thousand strings " will always be at
hand-often ont of tune, requiring their
skill, or better still, may be kept in tune
by their judicious care.
| have heard the young wife say, when
sickness came to her home, I,would
give all my school accomplishment to
be now good nurse, but / have not q
single idea in reference to the sick; every
new symptom frightens me, even if it be
a good one, for until the doctor comes
and explains, i don't know whether it is
a change for the better or worse, Many
young mother, broken in health and
heart, after the death of her first born"
joins our invalid band and says: 81
wish you not only to make me well, but
to give me information how to keep we'll
how to care for the sick. / think my
dear baby might have lived had / known
how to take care of it. My parents were
indulgent and gave me books, schools,
travel, every social advantage, but L knew
nothing Of the care of children, and when
my baby was born my mother
could not be with me, the experienced
nurse who was engaged Disappointed
me, the one | Iemployed proved ignorant
and Inefficient, and so the baby and
have had bad start The dear little
one has now gone where it will receive
the care it needs, which It's mother could
not give, and | am left lonely woman,
a miserable invalid, taking my first les
sons in sickness and sorrow. Then
comes the bitter exclamation, "Why do
our girls grow up learning so much they
never use, and so little of that they most
need? ;" Echo answers E''why?" / do
not know, and ] cannot find any one
who does. The plea is culture, discip-
line, development. But the best mental,
moral and muscular development which
/ ever fndis the result of useful activ-
ity.
Our girls spend hours daily, for years,
at the piano, and yet few of them ever
make much music; many do not even
try after the period of taking lessons is
past, are always out of practice, or
the instrument is out OF tune" Years
are given to the study of foreign Ian
guages, which they never speak, read or
write after their school days have gone
L,, Over tba. biohar oatbamofioo tbav
work and worry, and afterward lack the
ability, or the patience, to make their.
personal accounts balance Il ffR
,a Among all these qirls who go through
n routine in which t6ey have little inter
est chiefly for the honor of graduation.
are there NOT some who would do better
10 toke n select course sucb as would
meet tbe D. nhvsic;an's need. then add
medical Lectures. and SO come ON 10 the
staoe of active life. ready 10 serve the
nnLiic os nbvsic;ans or meet ~ want in,
priyaie bomes-that ofintelligent nurses ?
- Or better still. if health means and
40 ste allow take The full course afforded
hv ourbest schools and TO This add also
tga ,naJ;caIS 10 NOT he daterrad from,
fLe duties of the physician bv the fear of
nioht calls. or lonely rides unattended.
Whenever your services are required a
wav will he provided. If your company
;s desired NJ a marty or a tieater at n late
bonr nm escort is not wanting. The same
l. eonallv true in reference to the sick
cbsmber according Ia nv experience.
The gallantry and courtesies of life are
not sil exnended ON its follies. thank
Ueaveni AMONG the most pleasant
n,emor;es of tbe mast twenty wears of
. et;ve work among the sick is the kindly.
thoughtful attention received from gen
tlemen in every rank and position. Did
| need an escort at night, the arm of
poor man or the carriage Of the rich was
always ready. Was the patient in peril, !
and desired some one wiser than my |
self to give advice and share the respon-
sibility, gentlemen of age, and expert I
ence in advance of mine, were ready to
stand with me al the bedside Of the SEX
remember the resolutions of certain
medical societies in reference to consult
ing with women OF their profession, put !
felt certain then, as now that they would
not to any extent be observed. l ne truth