New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-01-19


THE FRENCH-ART AND ANATOY-WA LESSON
FOR THE BOIs OF PHILADELPHIA.
PARIS, Dec. 30.-Ihe American newspapers, con.
tanning accounts of the efforts made by tn" medical
students in the Philadelphia College 20 break mp the
female class by insulting It's members reached Par'
some time since. and the disgraceful event has
ated little astonishment here IL was hoped that
later journals would bring us news OF some apology
the part OF the Professors to the ladies 10 the
public or az least Of some rebuke administered Ia
the young men who have disgraced the medical pro
fcssiOn and the American name. Thus flr, however.
we have seen nothing but the statement Published
in the newspapers by the young men themselves.
which leaves the matter much worse than 1t was
originally The men who could put into cold bloodcd
print such words as those, have made it impossible
TO urge anything in defense OF their behavior
in the lecturc-room. II is worth noting.
however that the conduct Of orr American
students Oh that occasion differs only In degree
from the treatment that has been accorded both in
England and in Scotland to the women VINO have
endeayorcd TO get access to the medical schools IN
those countries With our American tendency to add
perfume to the violet our mcdica! men have gone
several steps further than their brothers this side
the water and have thrown into the scale already
loaded down with professional jealousy and narrow
ness the weight Of personal insult. This is weapon
which has not yet been employed on the British
battlefield in the warfare vagcd against women stu
dents The honor Of introducing it belongs cNclu-
sivey TO the young gentlemen Of Philadelphia. Il
would be pity to deprive their noble brovs Of
single leaf of the laurel of which they are no doubt
Justly proud. Although there has been great oppo
siton to the admission of women TO the medical
schools Of England and Scotland anoppos.tiDn which.
in England, has been successful. for no woman has
been admitted 10 the English schools rs yet, and
which, in Scotland. has only been defeated af,era
long and closely contested struggle, yet in neither
country. has it been found necessary Tor men to I'M
suit women, in order to gain the wishcd.io end 81
exclusion Many women have been turned away
from the doors Of English medical schools ~
find the opportunities they sought in Zurich,
in Edinburgh. aud m PaIi. hut they have been
turned away with civil words, aud even with good
wishes for better elsewhere; not one OF them
complains Of ever having been iEsui.cd Defeat Q,
always unwecome but il may be ,o.teuod hycNi'ty:
our Philadclphiaus seem 10 have thought it nothing
10 drive the young women nom tho COLLEGE Unio-'
they could make them vince I'm going. There is
young English lady studying medicine here 90 Pars.
at the Ecole de Medicine, Who, IN The course Of her
efforts 10 g instruction. after having been re,usco
admS sion TO AL the schools m England applied ior
permission TO study in the medical school in Glasgow
! The gentleman tO whom she made her request az
once granted IT, took her fee, and save her the paper
! which admitted her to the classes The next dly.
however ne waited upon her, apparently IA CON
siderable distress of mind. 20 say that ne had re-
ceiyed letter from his superior who informed him
that in admitting Miss -- hc had traasccndrd hrs
duty and that ne must return the amount OF her Ice
10 her and demand back the admission paporshe haf
given her The young mly thanked him Tor the
! kindly-for it was more tnan ciNil-way in which
D .4-4 I.- ID .I ., t'rfF
but informed him that of c0ur,c. she could MOB
consent either to take back her fee or 70 surrender
! her papers Of admission. The gentleman informed
| her that his duty obliged lin to leave the money
with her. and the lady. in reply, while admitting
! her inability TO prevent Iii, doing Sd, assured HIM
that she should send her servant TO hie house with
| the money rs soon aa he had gone. Ny business s
not with the termination OF the incident; merely
relate so much oi ID rs 10 show that the la,-
cow officials knew very Wen how 20 perform dira-
! greeable Ofiice-rven an uugenCIous onc-iu sucha
way a, not 20 hurt their victims feelings nor wonud
her dignity In Edinburgh There ia the same narrow
| spirit. there Is even meanucss 10 complain OIL out
they have thus far coutuyed 10 get on without using
insult Ii has not been found necessary 20 boot the
ladies in the class room nor 10 call them names pa
Inc courtyard aftcrward As ann gong TO contrast
the treatment TO which earnest high-miudcd wouan
, seekiugan education have been subjected in I'm
gish-spcaking countries with their experience INA
Paris and Zurich perhaps you will let mo tell Won.
! in paragraph. what they have had 20 - through
with in Edinburgh within a few weeks Here aa
everywhere al the opposition has come from tho
medical men, the proie son and the professors Pub
lie opinion has loudly demanded that II women
wished 10 study medicine they should be gwen
the use Of all existing opportunities and adj
vantages TO study IL thoroughly. Public opinion A"'-
then gained the trustees who may be considered 10
portion of the public but the profession has stead
iIv obstinatoy, aud. in some places rs I'D England
and Ncw-York. successfully opposed -h to Iho
movement. In Edinburgh, however. thc opposition
has been overcome and the proposition 10 admit Wo.
men 10 the schools, after having been referred from
one division OF the governing body of the College o"
another has finally on being carried before The Gen
eral Council however named, the supreme authority
been victorious TO this extent. Women ne AZ
lowed 10 attend the Lectures by tLc professors but
not M the same time with The male students; iA'Y
must make such arrangements as they can WITH tho
professors for separate lectures. To attend those
lectures IS obligatory. They must make arrange
ments with the professors for lectures. and they
must attend those lectures. They will not Dee admit
ted TO the public examination on the strength Oh any
course of private study. The discussion on the sud
iect Of the admission Of women TIA, took place VA
the General Council is said 60 have been very intc
ostipc There. WAS a Dr. Finn who must be-
snirituol connection Of ou Dr. Todd, who
declared that women who insisted on study
mo medicine verc leaving ,hcir sphere and
there wa, a Dr. Wood, who took he noble WOW that
women ought not 70 be admitted because there were
men enough starving m the profession and u women
added themselves TO the ranks they would make the
mons chances stil more slim. This sounds lie one
nj tbs good old Democratic arguments agalns. the