American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1872-07-13
The First Lady Dentist.

A LATE nu mber of HGr1e1's BOzdr con-
tains portrait of the Countess Helene
Tongl de Swiderska, who recently gradu-
ated with honor from the New York Col
lege of Dental Surgery, and who enjoys
the distinction of being the first of her
sex entitled to affiX the professional d.
d. S. to her name. Nine. De Swiderska's
career has been singularly adventurous
and interesting. She is a native of
Lithuania, in Russia. She lost her
mother at an early age, when her father,
an eminent physician of St. Petersburg
who also holds the rank of General in the
Russian army, devoted himself to her
education, and trained her to habits of
scientific study far more serious than is
common with young girls in Russia. At
the age of sixteen she married the Count
de Swiderska, a member of the high
nobility, who held an Office under the
Government, but who had little fortune
wherewith to support his title. She be-
came the mother of Il son, in whom all
her hopes centered, and for whom she
resolved to create a fortune to supple
ment the rank bestowed on him by his
father Moreover, she had long felt the
need of an earnest occupation. For
several years she had studied the natural
sciences, music Gor which she had a
natural talenD, and art.
Impelled doubtless by inherited pro-
clivities-her uncle, brothers and father
were all physicians-she now determined
to devote herself to some speciality of
medicine, and on looking about her found
none so available as dentistry, which is
almost unknown in Russia, and, indeed,
throughout Europe, though the field for
it is SO great. 1t is well known that most
of the few good dentists in Europe are
Americans, who, by reason of their rar-
ity, are eagerly sought after, and sit at
Kings tables. She, therefore, made the
preliminary studies in medicine under
her fathers direction, and, after obtain
ing all the dental knowledge that could
be gained in st. Petersburg, set out for
Berlin, furnished with letters of recon-
mendation from General and President
Wenceslas Palikao, General and Privy
Councillor Tropp, and other distinguished
personages. What was her disappoint
ment on learning that dentistry was even
at a lower ebb at Berlin than at St. Pc
tersburg, that nowhere in Europe could
she hope to extend her knowledge, and
that to perfect herself in the science she
must go to America to finish her studies
in a college, and obtain the necessary
diploma
But here another difficulty arose; the
American colleges did not admit women.
Nevertheless, she determined to 90 thith-
ing is impossible. She arranged her af-
fairs in two days, and, armed with letters
of Introduction from DR.. Langenbeck and
others, she sailed in Hamburg steamer,
and arrived at New York last October.
Having heard that the Grand Duke Alex
is was in New York, she resolved to pay
her respects to him and obtain from him
a letter of recommendation to the Con
sulate. Unfortunately, on the day of her
al h, al. 1, ID
ton, where he was to stay only two days.
On learning this she instantly followed
him thither, repaired to the fremont
House, where she received a cordial wei
come and the desired letters, and return
ed without delay to New York. When
we think that she had not friend nor
even an acquaintance in America and
that she had to rely solely on herself in
every emergency, We can imagine the
force of character that was needed thus
to overcome all the obstacles in strange
land.
Armed with her credentials, Nine Swi-
derska mt last presented herself for admis-
sion at the COLLEGE of Dental Surgery,
and, though ut first refused, was finally
suffered to enter, as a special favor, with
a pledge that she would claim no immu-
nifty from duty on account of her sex 1t
was found that her preparatory studies
were equivalent 10 Two years OF the col
legiate course. She applied herself assid-
uously, rising at seven and studying till
midnight every day, though she was greatly
hampered by her imperfect knowledge Of
English, the first lectures being, as she
says, Greek to her With the proverbial
linguistic quickness of the Sclaves, she
mastered the language in three weeks, so
as to understand it readily. Thenccforth
she made rapid progress, passed 4 credit
able examination, and received the first
of Doctor of Dental Surgery that
was ever granted to woman.
Having attained her goal, Nine De
Swiderska determined to see something
OF America and the Americans before her
return. She visited Washington, where
she was introduced to the President and
many of the distinguished personagcs
there, made journey Ia Niagara, and
mingled somewhat in the social circles of
New DIRK, where she was cordially re
ceived- she was warmly urged To remain
and practice her profession in America,
but irresistible attractions drew her home
ward, and few weeks since she sailed
FOR Europe, expecting to meet her father
and husband in Berlin, and TO proceed
with them to st. Petersburg, there to en-
ter upon her professional career