The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-05-05
FEMALE PHYSICIANS.
Influence OF Practice on the Domestic Re.
lations OF Wife and Mother.

Though the action of various Legisla-
lures has shown that the dominant seq ia
not yet prepared to give women the
equality which full enjoyment of suf.
frage may furnish, the actual extension
of womens prerogatives and employ
ments during the last thirty years is
enough to make the departed advocates
OF old time conservation turn in their
graves. The change is specially marke. =
in medical circles. Not very long az.
female physician was only heard of IA
the ranks of quackery and jugylery. II
mentioned, she was at once ciassed with
fortune-tellers and humbugs. Personal
incidents are always more forcibie than
general statements; hence the address
of Or. Rachael Bodley, Cincinnatian
by birth, ut the late twenty-ninth COM
mencement of the Women's Medical
College of Pennsylvania, of which che is
Dean, has unusual interest. The insti-
tuition has pa living graduates, from le9
OF whom letters have been received in
answer to inquiries sent out. OF those
replying, all but twenty-three are in &C.
tive practice. One hundred and fifty
report that they are accorded due social
and professional recognition, and only
seven the contrary. Ssventy-six tell how
ty-four between $1,000 and $4,000 per
annum twenty between $4,000 and
$4,000; ten between $4,000 and $4,000 !;
five between.se 81, 600 and $4,000; three
between $1,000 and $4,000; four from
$4,000 to $4,000, and ten less than
81 900. The average is $2,907.S0. Six
ty-one answer the question, "What in
fiuence has the study and practice of
medicine had upon, your domestic rela-
ton as wife and mother7" Fifty-two of
the number are married, and Of these
forty-five report favorable" six mot
entirely favorable" and one "unfavora-
ble." Nine unmarried practitioners,
after striking out the words "wife and
mother" reply as follows: In three
cases that their professional duties have
prevented marriage; fourth that she
has remained single for reasons eolirely
distinct from her professioD," and seven
Others that the interests Of dependent
| relatives, etc., have kept them in celiba-
cy. The author adds:
Returning to the answers of married
women, because they possess the greater
general intereet, remark that the song
of domestic life, as have listened with
ear attent, has been sung in no minor
key. In the melody LAS the tabulated
a1atoiASut buOHbJ are lew QlSc0rQant
notes, but these are such az O master
might throw in TO enhance the harmonies
of his strain. For example, q thoroughly
conscientious mother writes from hez
nursery, where three quiet young chill
dren claim the mothers ministry ''The
study of medicine is of great benefit, but
tho practice often interferes with my duty
to my family" The clear, pure quality
of tho replies, as whole, Is truly exhii.
arating, for example: "Purifying and
ennobiing. Married phyAician since ]
began practice. Am the mother OF q
boy of eight years of age" Another
II keep house, and care for husband and
three children as would if not in praa.
tice; perhaps, not quite as we'll, how
ever" Another: ~ have not been les.
wife or mother. My duties as such
have not been neglected. At times ]
may have been more taxed than if had
not these duties to attend TO-" Anothel
wife aud mother. whose successful train,
ing of three children now in adult life
entities her to an opinion: ~ think il
the history of the families of woman
physioians we're written it would be found
that their children are we'll cared for
! we'll trained, we'll educated; all this, ant