The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1889-04-11
MEDICAL WOMEN.
The Profession Considered from Ger
man Standpoint.

map Standpoint.
At the annual meeting of the assem-
bly, of German naturalists and ply
sicians, Professor Waldeyep delivered
an address upon the Practice of Medi-
cine by Women" reported in La Sc
maine Medicale for Sept. 26, 1888. He
endeavored to clear himself from
any accusations of unfairness or
prejudice by referring i'll compli
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 q position on
a level with that of men, as their func-
tions and attributes were as necessary
to the existence and maintenance of
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 medir
cine, however desirable it might seem
TO them, menaced not only their inter-
ests but those of humanity at large.
Although their opportunities had been
abundant, they had never advanced
medical science.
Midwifery, for example, which fop
many centuries had been almost ex-
clusively in their hands, had made no
progress until it was taken up by men.
They acquired great manual dexterity
in the art, but little else. Women had
never in any art created 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 q
hindrance to the teachers and students.
In laboratories they were unwelcome,
as they were awkward and careless,
the smallest difficulty discouraging
them, and the assistants complained
of women students who besieged them
with inquiries upon trivial matters.
Charcot, at whose clinics and lectures
a large number of women attended,
vas quoted as saying that women
thought more of themselves than they
did of humanity; they consented un-
willingly to be dressers in the hospitals
and to carry out antiseptic treatment
occupations for which they would
appear to be well suited. They were
too ambitious and aspired to the front
rank and TO the most prominent po-
sitions.
As nature had barred their way to
roles which they ought to fill, Wal
deyer concluded that women doctors
had no future before them and would
never be more than the exception.
Notwithstanding this opinion, he gave
them credit, curiously enough, for
their excellent memories, their close
attention to lectures, and their fire.
quent ability to pass better examina-
tons than men. Professor Waldeyer
concluded by stating that if man was
fitted To take the initiative for the pro-
duction of new ideas, if he had more
sequence ip his actions and his plans,
woman, on the other hand, was more
clearly endowed with other qualities
not less precious. 1t was Therefore in
the interest of humanity that he wish
ed that medicine might remain in the
hands of men,
Notwithstanding Professor Wald-
eyer's attempt to show his freedom
from bias, his address leaves very
different impression. He seems to
haye forgotten that midwifery was
taken out of the hands of women at a
period when they were regarded as be-
ing of low intellectual capacity, were
allowed no educational advantages,
and were made to occupy a very hum
bio position in affairs, This we be-
lieVe was the true cause for the as
sumption of midwifery by men rather
than any lnefiiciency upon the part OF
women. Many will demur to the
statement that in art and in literature
they have accomplished nothing
Women have certainly during the
past half century produced work
which will last as long as that of most
if not all OF their contemporaries.
No matter how one may feel in this
matter, it is certainly unjust to decide
the question in such an off hand man
ner The argumentatiye and senti-
mental power of this social problem
has passed, and only time can decide
whether women should enter the
medical profession or be restricted to
the duties of housewife. This de-
cision can be reached by allowing
them every opportunity to fight the
matter TO a successful or unsuccessful
finish. New York Medical Journal.