Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1889-06-15
MEDICAL WOMEN.
rbs Profession considered From a
German Standpoint

Az he last annual meeting Of the
Assembly Of German Naturaslsts and
Pavsiciaas. Professor Waldeyer dsliy-
cred an address upon the ..Prasiiee q
Medicine 81 WOmen,n reported ~ :
ssmaine MsdieaEe. for september -,
ISIS He endeav0red to clear himself
from any accusations Of unialrRess or
preju lice oy referring in complimen-
tary terms 10 the talented women who
taught in the school Of salernum-to
Louise Bourgeois. Marguerite Dc IA
Nanche. Marie Louise Lachapelle and
many others eminent ia their practice
OF midwifery.
He also admitted that for many cen
taries the healing art had been in the
hands OF women and. that they had
made valuable contributions 20 the lit
eratare Of medicine He believed that
womeu should hold position on level
with that Of men. as their functions and
attributes were as necessary 70 the ex-
istencs and M sinteuance Of the human
species as those men. but that their yo-
cation should be ths rearing and foster
| ing o. children. This vocation render
ed them everywhere and always the
EQUALS 81 men. Since the number OF
marriages was diminishing every year
taey had necessarily bsen driven into
seeking other duties Their entrance
| into medicine. however desirable il
I might seem ID them. menanced
ngt only their own Interests bat
those Of humanity az large
4 Although their opportunities had
been abundant they had never
advanced medical science. Midwifery,
I for example. which FOR many centuries
had been almost exclusively in their
hands. had made no progress untll y
was taken up b. 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 be-
long 10 them. they had done nothing
that might immortaitze name. Their
presence in colleges devoted to the in
structiOn OF men was a hindrance 70 the
teachers and students. In laboratories
they vera unwelc0me, as they we're
awkward aud careless, the smallest
difficulty discour giug them, and the
assistants complained o. women
students who beseiged them with in,
qulries upon trivia. matters. Charrot,
1t whose clinics and lectures large
number Of women attended. was quoted
a. saying that women thought more o
themselves than they did o. humanity
they consented unwiliingly 70 b. dress
ers in the hospitals aud % carry on
antiscpic treatment occupations iol
which they would appear To bo well
suited. They we're too ambitious ans
aspired TO the front rank aud 70 tht
most prominent positions.
As nature had barred their way {,
roles which they ought 20 ill. Wal
dsyer concluded that women do ctOF
had no future before them ami would
never ba more than the exception
, Notwithstanding this opinion, he CAV
them credit, curiousIy enough for thei
, excellent memories, their close alton
: ton 10 the lectures, ami their frequent
ability to pass better examination
9 than men. Professor Waldeycr con
> cluded by stating that II man was Ettet
10 taka the initiative for the produc
Iion OF new ideas, il he had more Sc
quence in his actions and his plans
women on the other hand. was NOR
clearly endowed with other qualitie
not less precious. II was there IN tn
interest Of humanity TINT he wishe
that medicine might remain Ia IN
/. hands Of men.
Notwithstanding Professor Waldo!
z er's attempt 70 show his freedom froi
Z bias. his address leaves very diffe
!. ent impression. He seems to have fo
gotten that midwifery was taken OF
Z Of the hands Of women at a periC
. when they we're regarded as beir
OF low intellectual capacity. wcI
9 allowed no educational advantages
. and were made 70 occupy yer
: humble position in affairs. This v
. believe was the true cause for ii
I assumption Of midwifery by men rath,
z than any inetiiciency upon the part
e women. Many will demur TO the stat
! mcnt that 10 art and In literature the
4 have accomplished nothing. Wome
d have certainly during the past ha
century produced work which will la
9 as long as that Of most II not all
: their contemporaries. No matter no
one may feel in this matter; It
certainly unjust to decide the qucstic
In such au off-hand manner. III
q argumentative and sentimental pow,
q Of this social problem has passed, AZ
?