Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-05-10

OF THE REPRESENTATIVE NUMBERS IN
CREAsING-A GOOD FIELD IN FOREIGN CoUN-
TRIES.
One of the noticeable features about the meet
ings OF the American Medical association at the
Congregational church during the recent session
in this city were the ladies who were seated
with the delegates. They however were not
noticeable on account of their numbers, for in
such solid array of black coats and bald heads as
the assemblage of over 200 doctors presented,
feminine ribbon or bonnet would naturally ar
rest the eye. The spectator who observed these
occasional Interruptions in the masculine mo-
notony Of the assembage no doubt concluded
that they were the wives of delegates who had
chosen to sit near their husbands Now and
then however, a voice With an unmistakable
female tone would be heard rising above the
deeper voices of the delegates in viva voce
vote, and then 1t was evident that the ladies
were more than mere spectators.
A STAR reporter asked the secretary DR.. At
kinson. II there were any lady members of the
association.
''fhere are some twenty or thirty, should
say" replied the doctor, in matter of fact way
II don know how many delegates were sent
this year. but usually we have that many
'Are they regular practitioners" asked the
reporter.
''Why, certainly" was the reply .'They could
not be members otherwise. They are sent here
representing the local societies to which thev
belong, just as the rest of us are"
How long have you had lady members of the
associations" pursued the reporter.
Ever since our meeting in Chicago, in 1876 "
responded the doctor.
Was there any question raised about admit
ting them, ventured the reporter.
Question:: repeated the doctor with pro-
lOnged infection at the end of the word
We'll ] would say that there was"
We had one of the liyeliest discussions on
this question ever heard" continued the doc
tor. I'VE had all along classed women with
coiored doctors in regard to their admission to
the association, but since then we have had
women delegates at every session of our assoca-
tom
do you admit colored doctors now" asked
the reporter
NO one has ever applied for admission, and
hope that they will not" said the secretary with
some earnestness 81 don't want to see another
row like the one we had in Chicago"
How do the women doctors get along?" con-
tinued the reporter.
First-rate," was the emphatic reply "They
are increasing in numbers all the time and
have good practice. j suppose that there are
some 400 regular women practitioners in this
country now. They do general practice, but,
OF course, do not attend men except in a case
OF emergency. woman doctor who attends
men is not considered in good standing Many
women are educated in this country, and then
so to foreign countries to practice. There is an
especially good field for them in such countries
as India and Japan. where male doctors are not
allowed to attend women"
DO the women attend the medical schools
together with the mem" Interrupted the lis
tener.
Certainly not" was the prompt reply. "They
have separate schools for women and very good
ones too There are schools In Baltimore, Phil
adelphia, New York, Chicago and other Dlaces
which have high standing, and their gradu-
ates, as rule reflect great credit upon their
training"