Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-08-17
One of the Lost on the "Schmer.'


To the American reader the list OF
names seemed mainly to include Germans
and it had somewhat foreign and re-
mote aspect. But among those names
there was one Of an American woman,
young and of singular promise, of whom
one OF the most eminent surgeons in
Boston said; Had she lived she would
have been sure 10 stand in time among
those at the head of her profession. The
usua, weapons of ridicule would have
been impotent against woman who had
reached that sdpreme position which
Susan DimOck would certainly have al
,aiued.n She was born in North Carolina
10 1871, and 10 1861 Miss ZakrzewSLa.
well known as most thoroughly trained
and successful physician and Surgeon in
Boston, received letter from the young
Caroliuian OF fourteen. stating that she
bad always preferred medical and surgical
books TO all others. and ASKING advice and
directions in'i;iing herself for The prac-
tee oil the profession. Miss ZAkizewska
replied as If to a iancilul girl and thought
OF the matter no more But the girl her.
sell quietly continued her studies and her
family having Lett the State during the
war, and being settled in Massachusetts.
she applied 10 Miss ZakrLewska five
yeats aNerwarJs-at the age OF nineteen
10 enter The New EnGland Hospital as
a student. Twice she applied tor admission
to The medical school OF Harvard Univers-
ity but was refused. Yet genius for the
profession she had chosen was so evident
and her qualifications so remarkable, that
he. teacher and friends advised her to
enter some European school. Tor which
her general accomplishments aud know
ledge Of languages peculiarly fitted her.
She went coidingly 10 the University of
Zurich, and alter studying Tor three years
graduated with high honors. and then
went Vienna and Paris, deyoiing her.
self especially 10 surgery, At Vienna a
noted German physician said to an Amer
lean friend that he had always thought
lightly OF women as physicians. but that
he had seen a young American woman in
school whose intelligence. devotion. and
aptitude were such that he began TO feel
that he was wrong.
10 1872 she returned to Boston and be.
came resident physician aud surgeon at
the New England Hospita! for Women
aud Children. As the surgeon whose
words we have quoted said: ut was
not merely her skill, but
also her nerve, that qualified her to be-
come a great surgeon. | have seldom
known one at once so determined and so
sell-posseSSed. Skill is q quality much
more easily found than this seli-control
that nothing can furry In her work
she was thoroughly conscientious and
Selt-reliant. and SO gracions and accom-
pIshed and attractive that the most
>SepIical could not escape the perception
that woman could be mistress oil the
medical and surgical profession, yet with
all The charm vi the lady absolutely un.
touched, as a man may be absolutely
master OF the same profession. yet be
sill the gentleman. Students and pa
tients we've deeply attached 10 her. Nor
l. this wonderful. Tor she had the wise
and prOiuse sympathy which is The key
ni the heart. Il wish YOU" she said in /.
one ol her lectures in the training school /.
Tor nurses, LOT al my instructions, es.
peciaiiy TO remember this: when you GO /
to DlrSe patient, imagine that il is your |
Own sister before YOU 10 that bed, and I
treat Der in ever respect as you would !
wish your own sister 10 be treated Nor /
did she permit any student to be present
as mere spectator at the treatment of |
patients. and this rule was uniform with |
The poorest AS well as the richest patients.
Miss Dimock had asked i've months
leave OF absence 10 visit some friends in
Europe, as necessary relaxation before
entering upon another term OF three
ears service. With Young friend OF
her own age-a daughter OF Colonel w.
b. Greene OF Boston, OF rare character
and accomplishment, and with all that
lite offers the young and beautiful and
fortunate 10 live for-she sailed upon the
Schiller" and her body alone was found.
Il was brought home and buried in Bos
ton. The pail was held by the most
eminent OF the surgeons OF the city, and
the Rev. James Freeman Clarke spoke
with affectionate and tender eloquence OF
the dead. He read letter which stated
that when last seen Miss Dimock was
kneeling on the deck praying aloud, and
as she knelt, sea broke over the vessel
and swept her, with q group near her,
out OF human sight or aid. When she
was taken from the water her face wore
q peaceful, even happy. expression.-
The inhabitants OF the island were
touched by It's sweet repOse, and the body
was presently StreXed with flowers by
compassionate men and women. Even
the rude fishermen who bore the body 10
the steamer which brought il home felt
the same influence, one of them saving as :
they lett the bier: ave laid her down :
as softly as ever her own mother did,
EEToRs EASY CHAIR, in HaTper'S Maya
inc