The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-04-17
The DOCTRESS.
What a German Magazine Has to Say
About Her History.

| About Her History.
In England, as we'll Us in the United
States, the female physician is no longer
a question to be discussed, but as Hegel
has said, reasonable because exist
ing" New female physicians are re-
ceiving degrees every day, and begin
ming the practice of the healing art in
all the large cities of both countries.
The information now comes from India
that the Countess of Dufferin is earning
unqualified praise for her plan for pro-
viding medical women to attend upon
the large number of Hindoo women
medical assistance. For the establish
ment in India of medical training
college for Indian women, funds and
grants of land are asked for by long
list of English patrons.
But in Germany, where the most con-
servatism exists in regard to female
emancipation, the question of the fe-
male practitioner is met. with many
objections. A favorable view is seldom
taken in any Of the more influential
periodicals of Germany. The follow
ing, from a recently launched Fdmitien-
bCdtt, seems, however, to lean a little to
the side of liberation. 1t says: ''If
we go back to ancient times we find,
according to Cato, that there were
scholars learned in hygiene, but no
family physicians. The Romans re-
ceived with distrust the strangers who
came over from Greece upon hearing
that the luxurious people of Italy wanted
men to restore them to the health
which their dissipated manner of life
had deprived them Of 1t was not,
however, until Charlemangc that medi-
cine became distinct branch of science,
the first medical faculty being organized
by monks, governed by them, and who
ever desired to join the fraternity were
compelled to take an oath to dress in
priestly robes.
1.-The first female doctor of which re-
cord is made was the Jewess Sarah.
whom the Bishop of Wurzburg in 1920
gave license to practice medicine in
all his parish. In 1923 an eye doc
tress, Zerline, became quite celebrated
at Frankfort-on-the- Main. But it is
only here and there, down the long
path of history, that the names of
women appear us physicians, and not
until about 1860 was a medical degree
conferred upon woman in England.
In Germany there are very few female
physicians those that are practicing
receiving their degree from Swiss uni
versities, Zurich being the most gener-
Gus in this respect.
Since, however, the occupation of
curing the sick has been legally num-
bcred among the professions, it is but
fair that whoever is thoroughly quail
fled, and has been pronounced SO by
competent authority, may practice such
profession, and rs to competition, that
is question to be decided by the pub
lie as to merit and not sex. But the
question as to whether married woman
can follow the practice of medicine
without neglecting her family obliga-
tons is not so easily answered. A per-
manent separation must necessarily
take place between the practitioner and
all household and maternal duties, be-
cause the uncertainty of this profess
sion precludes the possibility of an
orderly arranged family life. 1t is a
profession rather unsuited to the female
of high culture, as the health of such
will not admit of the necessary expos
ure of an active physicians duties, and
if her constitution should prove strong
enough to endure the added fatigue
md anxiety, she generally discovers all
too soon that, when Molicre said
medicine was the noblest vocation,
but the most wretched trade, he spoke
the truth. "-Chjcago Times.