New-York tribune., 1870-04-30
WOMEN IN THE CLINIC.
SHALL MEDICAL EDUCATION BE DECENT OR
DIsGRACEFULf

refinement whose position both in her profession and in
society entitle her words TO entire confidence:
DIAN M,DAS want express you ny thanks article
which have learned FROM pen TH sEvyoEk TRIBUNE
weeks since II rlsted hospital clinic WITNESSED by yourself and
the which m your indignation brought mind many pain
iu experiences ofmy While pursuing study Of medicine that can
not refrain from urus puue the subject little further in the
hope that Light be shed upon this noble and the future
students l made their feet Ny dear Madam glad
wkai did and M what ddyou unposonal and
moihefo only for such you giving publicity to their
Of the outrages imposed upon students their
hospital experiences that the study of medicine viii be made
comfortable O a person Of refinement
really in in the study Of the science Of medicine
satisfied thorough tnovledge Of operative surgery and
this be obtained outside the hospital ene but hos well re
agony endured under Unnecessary exposure OF patients
and the piercing Of male students darug the hospital DAYS OF -
and Is one surgical clinic especially back vvd
bring with The sinking enng sensation that nearly over
The psten, gayhAd old man from
the State Prison. with the lover lip These cminA
patients pey uniformly treated with careless ruienss and that
day told that the intention operate w without
the chloroon for the purpose Of trying the Of the ladies'
present hops groans patient might drive them from
the clinic Accordingly be hell by assistants while the Pro
lip from angle Of the mouth the point
chin AM then the points drawn together BY silver suu
making the LIP pro;ru like rue sn all this without the aid Of
any amid the most enng cries and at last when
bis distorted face fully by the crowd Of male students they
broke into laughter and cruel eerS oil over tie room-
Another patient day another prisoner requiring operation OF
great deac with hip joint who before getting the
couch told by the Professor his pauaoonS He DE-
mured pointing the ladies' absolutely refused obey The de-
sga refused and the third tine the Professor
shouted tbem that what the ladies' for"
Thse but OF many professional experiences which were
bought knoseg gned worth half it,
le. concerning hes criminal, who Ofn furnished
subjects kctur,s could why they
should dealt viii less tene than other and women since they
already the dread penalty Of the Law for their ofenses and
ought punished degraded and moreover could never
forget fearful Generalization to young who frequently
vitneSsiug hese scenes Of and brutality.
There has for the better in clinics
my equally that there great for further
ipproyemut noble profession
surely be raised than BY inviting the presence OF women in
every department Permit thank for honest
words Of truth and obenes and beg you hot to lei Tie ~ p
here
since receiving the above, have conyersed with the
writer aud asceraned that the attendance Of her class
on these lectures limited TO two days in the week,
and that the professors desired to reserve all cases
Of decacy for their other lecture days when only male
students would be present SO that there was no excuse
whatever for the introduction OF the second patient
alluded TO- much less for the wanton insult to the ladies
the present And all this occurred at an institution sec
in the land and under professors who could
not be outranked in age ability, or social and profes-
sonal position.
find, too in q late report Of the Womans Medical
College Of Pennsylvania card from the faculty OF that
College in regard 20 the disturbances n the Pennsylvania
Hospital last Winter wherein they show that they also
have always taken the ground that classes ef cases
should be reserved for private exhibition. They
say: ave believe, as have always done, that in
special diseases OF and women and in all operations
necessarily involving embarrassing exposure OF persons,
1t is not fitting expedent that students Of different
sexes prOmiscuUusy that all special diseases OF
men should be treated by IN the presence OF men
only and those by women, where 1t s practicable, by
women, in the presence Of women only. 1t was this
feeling founded the respect due 10 the dehcacy OF
women as patients perhaps than any other cOnsd
lid flta fNFsf ding ~ fTa
Hospital Of Philadelphia There the clinical demonstra-
ton Of special diseases is made by lady physicians and
before lady students alone" All which goes 10 show that
the prejudice against women in clinics is mere prejudice,
and ought to be done away with speedily. But the
trouble, / think is that professors themselves are
welded to CUSTOM and most Of them being really pure
minded and sincerely in the belief that the interests OF
science demand continuance OF the old regime, it is
difficult for a small class Of women, however determined
and however admirable In character and motive TO make
any Impression thotn a hndy- The community,
therefore, to their assstance-the great mass
Of intelligent AID women who are already con-
yinced that we do need body OF welleducated women
practitioners and cannot longer do without them When
medical culture and refinement feel this pressure
from outside and clearly understand that there Is no
crusade against them personally, that their gratutous,
or nearly grauitous, service in clinics is fully appre
ciated they will surely put themselves at the head Of
this movement toward humanity and the higher civza-
ton and make clean path for their sisters and for the
young men also who should gaanty stand by their side
And finally let me urge that never lose sight Of the
great principle underlying this whole subject which
this: That and intended by God TO sup
plement each other in every department Of life which
has moral side to it, and the more difficult and spirit
ualy subtle the duty to be performed the impera
lively are the two called upon to unite in its per-
formance. Hence there is place where such union Is
essential than in the Of the sick and the pre-
paraton necessary the intelligent and faithful dis
NJ he q he BeyOud
human beings, the medical has to the hearts
OF both and women-he Is intrusted with secrets
unspoken 10 all other ears his words Of suggestion,
ton and sympathy 60 further than any other in deter
mining habits OF body out OF which may come
purity mputy OF SOUL he therefore, above all men,
should be sensitive to spiritual influences that he may,
in turn mpart them Yet under the regime of the past,
il seems that young medical students have been subject
10 evil Influences that angel could scarce hope TO
withstand. A distinguished physician said TO me, not
long since al do you that you can have
cepton Of the vulgarty and the Obsceny that occur in
the dssecting and often where medical students
are privately cong gated have been tossed about the
world since was hoy, and have been brought in
close conaC with all sorts OF men, but must say that
the Jokes and conversation OF medical students exceed in
veness and ndecency any that have ever heard else
where" Would this be true, tlnk You, II honorable
women not few land there are many such now gather
ing 10 the ranks and making eager application FOR pro-
fessonal education) fellOw-students with their
brothers in all departments, and If they were cordially
welcomed by professors everywhere as their best assist
ants in stimulating viruOus conduct, and promoting the
great integtes OF the professions And without this,
how NAV we hope for new ordering OF things in this
particuar-what is make the young medical students
OF the future more careful Of their speech and their lives
than they have been in the past
Let fathers and mothers attend these lectures then FOR
themselves opportunity offers they will thus not only
gain valuable information at small cost Of time and
fbatrxr str
age the hearts Of those who the Philadelphia
Faculty say "have 10 this labor enthusiastically.