Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-30
MEDICAL STUDENTS.
WHAT ZURICH UNIVERSITY Is DOING
FOR THE FAIR SEX.

The ScalpeI in Taper Fingers-Enthu-
siasm in Scientific Work-An Interest
ing Sight-A Discussion.
| The workshop of medical collegel But,
In place Of specialized young men with long
| gowns and sharp scalpels, there are score
| OF girls robed in protecting overalls and
| deftly dissecting the subjects before them.
That's what saw in the preparatory school
to the medical branch of the Zurich rniver-
| sity. This year better idea of the female
| medical student may be gathered than ever
before. because the number is SO much
| greater, and, as the number increases, each
individual is ireer in her actions, for she feels
| she excites less attention. The clientele is
growing yearly. For this season the total OF
young ladies studying this branch in Zurich
Is torty-four, against thirty-Jhree last sea-
son.
Don't think this dissecting room is an alb
solute place of horror The bodies are di-
vided into their several parts before the
students approach them, and each young
lady has her chosen portion to operate upon
This reduces the uncanny appearance to q
considerable extent for no bodies entire are
to be seen lying on the many slabs or tables
=
spirituelle yound lady, holding in her gloved
hands razor like knife and pair of fine
pinchers, was cutting at dismembered head,
studying the organs of sight, probing into
the cavities Of the brain and plucking useful
thoughts from what to me was CHASTITY
trophy. And yet her delicacy of treatment,
her unu,istakable enthusiasm, her evident
comprehension Of every stroke she made, re-
nUQH not IN,
ments, and l fingered, watching her quick
movements as intensely as l would any
ordinary scientific experiment.
Yes" she said, in reply to my question
suggested in virtue of slight acquaintance
had with her, II make the eye my spe-
cialty, for believe, in addition to being one
OF the most interesting points to study, it is
likewise more potent factor than is gen.
orally believed in the health Of an individ-
ual have known persons to suffer from
severe headaches and pains in the back who
have attributed the trouble entirely to spi-
nal disorders, when, as fact, it arose from
their eyes being out of focus. They actually
could not see out of one eye and yet they
did not know it. 1t seems incredible, and
yet any intelligent oculist will substantiats
what say. There is no doubt that persons
brought on by difficulty with the eyes Of
which they were ignorant, but which very
easy operation would have removed"
A little farther on a disciple Of this glori-
Gus art stood over a partially cut leg, from
which she was stripping the skin and flesh
and explaining the muscles, as they pre-
sented themselves, to the several new schol-
ars who stood about her. intent upon her mo-
he:
ions, she cut with a clean stroke, and every
time the blade fell just where it was in
tended She was graceful and emphatic in
her treatment of the subject, and under
ready tongue the relations of the various
nerves, tendons and muscles she exposed
were made clear and carried their full mean
ing to the expectant audience about her.
In distant corner young woman and
several male students were discussing an alb
normal growth discovered by one of them in
the trunk of a one time sturdy Freuchman,
resting upon their particular slab There
appeared to be considerable difference in
opinion prevailing, and ! remarked with
certain citation peculiar, perhaps, to my sex,
that the young woman held her ground and
her idea stubbornly, and the young men paid
due and proper attention to what she fire.
quently said.
l next noticed fashionably attired damsel,
wearing promenade dress and having every
indication of being In the mode, who, pro-
tected only by small white apron plentifully
decorated with varicolored ribbons was cut
ting and scraping at an arm, barring the
muscles with an ease and dexterity that were
certainly natural, and could never have been
wholly acquired. AT first sight judged this
tl1yx
prompted by some morbid passion to amuse
herself in this manner, but when asked the
professor who accompanied me. he said she
was the most skillful manipulation of the
scalpel among all those then attendant, and
could strip muscle as clearly and as beau
tifully as an established surgeon On the
street one would take her for the average
shopping butterfly, with refined features and
q rosy, semi-transparent skin.
The professor further assured me that the
women were particularly dexterous in hand
ling muscles Their small, taper fingers gave
them an advantage over the males. and their
eyes were quicker to detect details and m,nu-
tia After once becoming accustomed TO
the use of the scalpel, the women are more
patient than the men, and they prosecute
their researches more persistently.
1t was to me very interesting to watch the |
girls mingling with their male colleagues
and studying with them the terrible mystery
Of human construction There was no
jocoseness, no loud talking or unseernly
mirth All was quiet, orderly, strictly in
the line of business The young lady to |
whom have referred was the only one who |
gave any suggestion of the outer world, and |
she was eccentric; she was genius and as |
sumed the privilege of genius.
Her companions were robed in all conceal |
ing white Mother Hubbards, tight at the |
neck and tight at the waist, otherwise falling |
unbound from shoulders to feet; beneath |
this, clothing as little cumbrous as can be |
worn. The modern hustle is Of course, for |
hidden, and corsets are discouraged The !
freest action is sought and anything that in |
terferes is cast aside. The robes are made |
rather more clinging than loose. so that each |
student fills the smallest place she well can |
Superfiuous clothing in other words. is |
barely tolerated, and upon the head Is worn /
q white turban-
The male students do not hesitate TO openly ,
declare their opposition 10 the presence or
women IN the medical profession, and yet |
when brought in contact with them IN the /
operating room they treat the females with |
the utmost Difference and respect-Zurica |
Cor. New York Star.