The New York herald., 1878-03-27
MEDICAL EDUCATION OF WOMEN
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE IN coxSEcTroN WITH
Ir-NEcEssIrY OF TRAINED NURSES IN HOS

WHAT HAS BEEN DONE IN CONNECTION WITH
Ir-xEcEssIry OF TRAINED NURSES IN HOS.
PITALs.
The Union League hall was comfortably filled
last evening. the occasion being public
meeting of "The Association Tor the Ad-
vancsment OF tho Medical Education OF Women. ~
rwo-tnirds OF those present were ladies.
Shortly alter eight O'Clock tho chair taken by
Mr. William Z. Dodge Jr He expressed the satisfaction
II gave hun to preside over such meeting aud said
that whatever difference OF opinion there might be
TO the rights OF woman they were all agreed that It
her royal right TO for humanity In sickness
and trouble He also spoke Of the necessity Tor trained
IN the hospitals aud added that TO provide such
was one OF The objects OF the associa iation.
Mr.. Robert b. Roosevelt was the first speaker. He
said that IL had been stated by high medical author
ity that the majority OF women suffer from disease
through their lives which In most entirely
curabe II properly understood and treated. There
why women should DO more delicate
than mon. They mistressss OF their own time
and could give every attention to the care
OF their health but In the pursuit OF money had
to undergo exposure ana submit TO confinement,
which certainly could not be beneficial 10 health The
fact stared them tho lace that the female sex
lar beneath what IL should be In physical
strength Tho deplorabie state OF Ill health
the want OF proper medical ADVICE by members
Of their sex. ln violent cases whore tho kDifc
had 20 be used the services of mans strong nerves
should not be neglected. but IN the miider forms OF
trouble q woman was the most suitable attendaut on
her sex. They were more apt 10 get at the bottom
facts Of the trouble None were more respected or
Stood higher In their profession than the women
doctors OF New York, aud he gavc all honor to these
who stood by them In their Efforts After speaking OF
the suabinty Of women for tho duties OF and
the objection women physicians, account Of the
,doa tnat .ney were were not p,ope.y !oaoa ana snow
ter, he quoted IN proof Of the modesty OF female pa
tions tho means taken In France, where suicide was
almost an epidemic among women. 10 put stop to
IL. decree was passed that the bodies OF all
cdes should be exposed naked tho gaze OF tho pub
lic Suicides were alterward rare happenings.
Dr. Emily Blackwell related the history OF the
movement for the medical education OF women. 1t
began in lS49 when her gained degree IA this
state Before timo ladies' had been engaged
In the practice OF branches Of The profession, notably
water cures but Is was then the privilege and
spon sibties Of Gho profession were conferred for
Blackwell applied for the position Of attend
but her application denied, on tho ground that ii
granted Il would Interfere with the harmony OF
ses.sd the idsa Of womans dlspcnCary. and In 1857
opened In Bieesksr street That was the first
colleges which women could attend. one at
Boston and tho other At Philadelphia
without having ever stood At tho bedside Of
a sick patient. Tho New York Hospital provided for
that want. and the best known women physicians Of
the present day had attended II. There wcrt
liar institutions In Phadciphia, Boston and Chicago
She then related efforts which had been made to
affiliate Tho Now York Hospital with some Of tho
larger colleges and how they had all failed
Or. Mary Putnam jacob read paper on the future
aims OF the association
Mr.. Dodge then announced that lists would be
passed to which those present wishing join
the association might sign their names.
Colonel +. W. Higginson was tho last speaker. He
related several amusing ecdotes after which he paid
high tribute 10 the medical profession. He told OF
the services OF Clara Barton with the army OF the
Potomac and Of those Of Mrs. Lander In South Caro-
lima. Medical training for women Ia tho cou rse
Of the progress OF the world and II was movement
which bound to succeed.
The meeting then dispersed.