The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1889-05-16
MEDICAL WOMEN.

MEDICAL WOMEN.
The Profession Considered from IA Ger
man Standpoint.
At the annual meeting of the assem-
bly, of German naturalists and ply
sicians, Professor Waldeyer delivered
an address upon the Practice of Medi-
cine by Women" reported in La Sc
maine Medicale for Sept. 2G, 1888. He
endeavored to clear himself from
any accusations of unfairness or
prejudice by referring in compi-
mentary terms to the talented
women who taught in the school
of Salernum = to Louise Bour-
geois, Marguerite de la Manche, Marie
Louise Lachapelle and many others
eminent in the practice of midwifery.
He also admitted that for many cen
turies the healing art had been in the
hands of women and that they had
made valuable contributions to the
literature of medicine. He believed
that women should hold position on
a level with that of fne1, as their func-
tons and attributes were as necessary
the human species as those of men,
but that their vocation should be the
rearing and fostering of children.
This vocation rendered them every
where and always the equals of men.
Since the number OF marriages was
diminishing every year they had nee
essarily been driven into seeking other
duties. Their entrance into medi-
cine, however desirable it might seem
to them, menaced not only their inter
ests but those of humanity 1t large.
Although their opportunities had been
abundant, they had never advanced
medical science.
Midwifery, for example, which for
many centuries had been almost ex-
clusively in their hands, had made no
progress until it was taken up by rien.
They acquired great manual dexterity
in the art, but little else Women had
never in any art created a masterpiece
even in music, which seemed properly
to belong to them, they had done
nothing that might immortalize q
name. Their presences in colleges de
voted to the instruction of men was :
hindrance to the teachers and students
In laboratories they were unwclcome
as they were awkward and careless
the smallest difficulty discoumgine
them, and the assistants complained
of women students who besieged then
with inquiries upon trivial matters
Charcot, at whose clinics and lecture:
large number of women attended
was quoted as saying that womer
thought more of themselves than they
did Of humanity; they consented un
willingly to be dressers in the hospital!
and to carry out antiseptic treatmen
occupations for which they woulo
appear to be well suited. They were
too ambitious and aspired to the from
rank and to the most prominent po
sitions. a.
AS nature had Barred their way t.
roles which they ought to fill, Wal
deyer concluded that women doctor.
had no future before them and woult
never be more than the exception
Notwithstanding this opinion, he gav'
them credit, curiously enough, fo
their excellent memories, their clos
attention to lectures, and their FIRE
quent ability to pass better examina
tons than men. Professor Waldeye
concluded by stating that if man wa
fitted to take the initiative for the pro
duction of new ideas, if he had NOR
sequence in his actions and his plans
woman, on the other hand, was NOR
clearly endowed with other qualitie
not less precious. It was Therefore il
the interest of humanity that he wish
ed that medicine might remain in tn
hands of men.
Notwithstanding Professor Wald
eyer's attempt to show his freedom
from bias, his address leaves a yer.
different impression. He seems t
have forgotten that midwifery wa
taken out of the hands of women at
period when they were regarded as be
ing of low intellectual capacity, wer
allowed no educational advantages
and were made to occupy very hum
bic position in affairs. This we be
leve was the true cause for the as
sumption of midwifery by men rathe
than any inefficiency upon the part c
women. Many will demur to th
statement that in art and in literatur
they have accomplished nothing
Women have certainly during tn
past half century produced wor
which will last as long as that of mos
if not all of their contemporaries
No matter how one may feel in thi
matter, it is certainly unjust to decid
the question in such an off hand mar
ner. The argumentative and sent
mental power Of this social probler
has passed, and only time can decid
whether women should enter th
medical profession or be restricted
the duties of housewife. This de
cision can be reached by allowin
them every opportunity to fight th
matter to successful or unsuccessful
fnish.-New York Medical Journal.