, 1875-07-18
WOMEN. AS DOCTORS.
A Discourse Before the MasSa-
chuSetts Medical Society.
Soma objections to TIE Medical Educa
ton Of Women.
And an Argument to Show that Those
Objections Arc Ill-Founded.

And an Argument to Show TINT Thos,
| Objections Arc Ill-Founded.
| To ths Editor of The CHICAGO Tribune.
Bos1oS. July 13.-This subject occupies the
greater part OF the Annual Discours, befor.
the Massachusetts, Medical Society June ., 1875
by George h. Lyman. II. d.
This Society has existed nearly century. ans
now contains some 1,40o members. It il, pay
excellence, the State Medical Society," 10 pure
and exclusive that its lawful right to expe
heretics in the form Of Homeopathists from it,
ranks had not only been publicly asserted ant
| pract.ced In its proceedings, but has beer
sanctioned by the Courts. The Society hal
widely resolved, and given notice, that it will
not hold itself responsible for any opinions OF
+; sentiments advanced in these annual discourses,
so that it Ia not high treason against this august
| body 10 oriticise them This it is we'll te
premise, because the writer, being neither q
physician nor woman. but only possible ps'
| tient Of some member OF this Society, desires
| above all things, to keep on good terms with
I any into whose hands be may fall.
DR.. Lyman thinks he represents the views o1
his profession generally for he says. in discuss-
ing the e1pediancy of admitting women to this
Society, supposing things should como to such
sad pass. that they
CANNOT BE EErT FROM QUALIFYING THEMSELVES
BY EDUCATION.
Tho most serious objection to their admission
is, that 1t would be Immediately construed as a
taolt approval by lbs medical profession OF any
professional education for women. This would
be great otror,-the truth being that ths pro-
fession. as whole, are einsula,ly unaninous IN
their disapprosal Of auy such aim.-they having
q very decided conviction that the higher
standard OF education which women are seek
ing, aud which they certainly ought to have,
should find for it's Development other and more
appropriate spheres, which are as yet far from
being exhausted. II Nc cannot prevent their
practicing, lat US take them into the fold and Eco
to them, because sit is far better that not only
their preparation for it [the profession]. but
their action therein, should be under competent
supervision" 'sIf, as Ne believe, they have un-
dettaken task which will resalt in failure, We
can well atYor6 to lat it have fair trial under
now conditions, Trusting to the future to prove
that which No had thought already su Rcieatly
proved by the experience OF tho past"
We certainly have here most cordial and fra
ternal invitation on the part OF the orator to
such erring sisters ~ have strayed into these
forbidden paths OF knowledge, and need
the aid and sympathy Of association II 8 ct to
music the air might be, 'Wilt you walk into
my parlor?" etc. And surely. too, such q
tribunal u the speaker assumes his audience to
be ia, tor presumed candor and catholicity OF
spirit respecting the subject before it, only to
be equaled by court and jury after verdict and
Judgment.
But We have reversed the order OF the dis
course by considering the last question first.
This. however, seemed necessary, TINT the
reader might better apprehend the sort OF meet
ing he is attending, and the natural proclivty Of
its orator to line OF discussion that might fuu
ready response. The genera! subject OF the
discourse ia, "The Interests OF the Public and
tne Medical Profession n; and, however strong
the drift Of the argument seems to bc towards
the interest Of the medical profession, it IS im-
possible for any one holding tho foregoing con-
clusious already stated to dacuss tho subject
otherwise.
The earth ia the Lords, and we are His saints.
I am the State. We are the Medical Profession.
Homeopnthists are not, and women 41a not, and,
ths Lord halpiox u.s.
NEVER SHALL BE,
nor shall any irregular practitioners enter our
Kingdom, although DR.. Lyman frankly makss
the following admission
.'It cannot be denied that there ia quite as
much difference among regular practitioners in
their methods OF treating the came disease as
between them and the better class OF so-called
irregulars, between whom and ourselves tha dis
tinctlop in many casos Is one OF eth,cs 1ather
tlan Therapeutics"
Like all old and conservative bodies, the So
ciety distrusts the Judgment Of tie people Is to
whom they should employ. ''Who does not
know that patent pill OF we'll advertised elixir
had mora money in it than our phil .sophy has
eyer dreamed Of :" Aud then he adds thas the |
range Of the regular practitioner includes every-
thing OF worth Which tho various 1sms contain,
and abaorbs all worth preserving in every ism |
aud pathy that bus attempted to set up new
school.
Coming to the main questions, whether our !
medical schools and hospitals should oe open to
women and, if 80, whether by the method OF |
eeparate or mixed iuetruction,-tho speaker mny |
be fairly presumed to have presented tne mega |
tive argument in it's strongest light and, it |
gen,le!pan 80 able and 20 CONSCIOUS of right, ats
perioa when the wnol8 subject has recently ]
bean fully discussed in newspapers, magazines,
ani books. before = critical aud exacting audi
eDce. caunot sustain his positions, it ia maui
fest|v hecause they are not founded on truth and
rirht He admits freely - the right Of women