New-York tribune., 1872-04-30
WOMAN IN THE HOSPITAL.

Monitor, 4 pine Co., Cal, April II, ls72
WOMAN IN THE HOSPITAL.
To The Editor Of Tho Tribune.
SIR: l wish to present to you simple
sketch Of the experience Of recent graduate OF the
Woman's Medical College of tho Eew-York Infrmary.
1t customary for graduates in medicine who desire to
excel ractice the earliest possible appoint
ment I'm apubc hospital. The chances for such appoint
ment being few in comparison with the number OF app
cans, the latter quite properly made subject TO rlgd
competitive examination. Such competition has hther-
to been restricted in the NewYork hospitals to the gen.
emen of the profession. The graduate of whom speak,
Dr. Mary Studley desiring to profit by the advantages
of such an appointment recently took the resolution to
enroll herself among such competitors. The condition
Of enrolment is the Endorsement OF the application Dy
one or members of the Medical Board OF the nos
pial In which the appointment is sought Believing tnat
Bellevue Hospital offered the widest range OF advantages
she asked the of several members OF its Board 10
support her application. Not one to whom she applied
questioned the justice propriey OF her wish, yet
each found papable excuse for refusing to grant
1t. Said /" 1t Is an Innovation; must be decided
by the Commissioners. Go to suchaone; he ought 10
sign It, II he IL sign your certificate" Said another
"But do YOU realize. Madam, that only the best men Ill
the colleges compete for these places and that you must
pass o brilliant examination to winP Bahied III this
direction hut not dauned, she next turned TO Charity
ing to give frank Endorsement Of the equal rights OF
all regular medical students to compate in ex-
animation for appointments IN puDlc hoSpi-
tails. Jhh was Dr. Joseph W. Howe, Professor
OF Clinical Surgery in University Medical College
Her appli0on ndOrsed by him, was presented III per-
son the Chairman Of the Examiners, Prof. Erskinc
Mason onthe goth of March last. lie stated to her that
the question Of its acceptance would necessarily como
before the Medical Board, at its next regular meeting
April /. Now, inasmuch the examination was TO
occur til. 22d of March, she naturally failed to see the
benefit to her Of such April measures, ami inquired
whether Masculine applicant equally well indorsed,
would be required TO wait for such meeting Dr. Mason,
seeming to recognize the equity OF her position finally
consented to file her application with those of the twelve
gentlemen already accepted for examination, land stated
her that remained only for her to appear with them
at the time appointed and await the option OF the other
examiners. She accordingly appeared. The examiners
were Drs. Mason, Noyes, Budd Thompson. and Keyes.
The vacancies TO be competed for were bye Each ex-
amner accorded to her. with the utmost courtesy the
right Of competitive examination as medical student,
and the result proved her to be the third In rank OF the
five successful candidates. The examiners reported
her the Medical Board, numbering some 90 or more,
whose duty it was, according Section of Chapter
of Hospital laws to report the names 3f those 9
appointmenf. 10 the Commssionera, for confirmaton
on the ensuing Ist OF April the Medical Board held
TSEr ppeT Of obegns MV its own laws It finally passed
resolution withhold the three names from the Com
missoners substitute therefor that Of gentlemen OF
inferior qualifications and also appointed a Committee
OF Explanation. Dr. studey learning OF this fraudulent
action Of the Board asking that the rights Of which she
considered herself uDjusty deprived should be secured
This protest was conveyed by Samuel wiets IN his
official capacity as President OF the womans Medical
sioners, Messrs. Isaac Bell, James Bowen, Owen W.
brennan, James i; Nicholson, and Alexander Frear:
that science and skill should know no sex, but that merit
should he the governing principle They unanimously
agreed refer her papers to the Medical Board for
The Board OF Commissioners then furnished the protest
ant with copy OF report sent to them by the following
Committee Of Explanation: II. l.. N0yes, NJ. D.; Alfred
L. LOOMS NJ. D.; Wm. Chamberlin, NJ. ID. The Committee
knowing that when DR.. studley studied anatomy she
studied il natural cadavers, In their report
that she cannot look upon nature with proprety They
knew passing her examinations for the degree or
Doctor Of Medicine she was held responsible for at least
a theoretical knowledge OF all diseases Yet their report
They also knew that her oath Of Office In way differs
from their own in that requires ler to shrink from no
only perform service such times and in such
tho conyentionatles OF society make proper for the
Alfred L. Loomls, NJ. D.also appears on the following
certificate by which its possessor has received diploma
for the unrestricted practice OF medicine:
The undersigned Examiners OF the Wonans Medical
College OF the New-York nhrmary, hereby certify that
Mrs. Mary Jane Studley has passed satisfactory
animation before the Board and recommend that she
Neeege Mee he esTSg Wizard al Pare Of %
NJ. d.. Austin Flint, NJ d.; Stephen Smith, NJ ID. j.
w. MeCready, NJ d.; A. L. Loomis, NJ d.; {. +. Gland
ler VI. D."
The conclusion OF the history awaits the Commits
sioners' action upon the above protest.
Ner-York April Is, 1872
This statement, which seems perfectly calm and
candid, we 10 doubt. There certainlyap
pears to be for the action OF this Board
that such hospital appointment Of woman is without
precedent In this country. In the foreign hospitals DIS
ordinations OF this kind not made, and it IN these
institutions that several OF our most excellent women
physicians have gained the practice which they
denied here The justice OF ofexcudiug woman from the
medical staff Of hospital which contains feminine
patients and feminine does not quite clear
and is to be hoped that the Board will reconsider their
repOrt.-Edl