The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-09
Total outstanding. &c.
FOR LADIES ONLY.

MrB. Ut. fOltS'S BecUure-OeVeTal Deh-
cate Subjects Carefully Handled.
Although the rain fell in torrents
large audience gathered at Y. Nj. Hebrew
Hall yesterday afternoon TO hear Mrs. Dr.
Potts's first lecture to ladies only. The
audience was composed Of the refinement
and fashion OF the city. For two hours
the gifted doctoress held her audience in
close attention, being frequently inter
rupted by applause from daintily gloved
hands.
1.-TWO centuries ago." she said, "a man
was never admitted to the confinement
chamber Such an act would have been
an objectionable breach of delicacy.
Nature is usually equal TO such emergen-
cies. Occasionally matters 90 wrong,
and then only is q skilled physician
necessary. The Queen Of France being in
danger OF her life and men only being
educated in medical matters at that time,
a man was called. That started custom
still in vogue but II is a custom
obnoxious alike TO the husband and
wife. Women to-day possess the
medical knowledge rs men, and
the time is near at hand when
men will care for men and women
for women. \ woman's natural knowledge
OF herself, coupled with equal medical lore
and experience, gives women physicians
greater efficiency in treating her own sex
than men have. Women place their case
freely before a woman, while, from mo.
tives OF delicacacy, they conceal much
from male advisers. The prenatal exist
| once Of child has an important bearing
on its future life. Cruel and unjust treat
ment OF the mother, or unholy thoughts
and acts Of the woman herself, implant the
seeds OF crime in the mind Of the unborn.
Thieves and murdercrs and other crimi-
mails aie often the product OF such influ-
ences. Physiological knowledge will in
time depopulatc our jails. The physician's
most important duty is 10 prevent disease.
| Fully 20 per cent. OF sickness results from
causes easily avoided. In every city the
leading physicians should deliver annually
a series OF lectures pointing out these
/ causes, and the result would be marvel.
Gus harvest Of good health and
morality. Women are not quail
fled for hard physical labor. Their
anatomical makeup precludes their
lifting so much as men. While woman
should take plenty Of exercise in loose
garments aud in the open air, she should
never run up or down stairs, or lift heavy
articles or ride horses. Darwin bases one
OF his strongest arguments on that peculiar
| structure OF woman which makes lifting
80 injurious 81 her" The Doctor does not
believe in the Darwinian theory. The
fact that abouginies bear children easily is
often used as an argumen. against ciyiiza.
ton in It's bearing on physical health.
While the dress OF woman and the sed-
enlary life and the triumph Of the cul.
mary art injurc the health Of civilized
races, yet the chief cause Of the severity
OF childbirth II due 90 the great mental
development Of the Caucasians. causing a
mechanical difficulty not met with in saw
ages whose heads are small. She dc.
sired TO qualify one statement about
physicians in the confinement cham
Der. 10 meet unusual phenomena one
should always be present, n man II no
other could be had. but when a skilled
woman could be found the sanctity OF the
home circle would be preserved. She
knew men physicians TO be honorable
men ~ rule but, Notwithstanding this,
the place is an improper place for him.
| The entire discourse was characterized by
high moral lone and gave evidence Of a
wide experience and keen observation.
Her clear. incisive gifts Of speech and
happy illustrations and sound sense were
very entertaining. Hearty laughter rip.
pied from all portions OF the house in
recognition Of her neat hits and witty In.
/ tcrluics. She Is not at all masculinc--in
/ fact she Is a most womanly woman. She
lectures NJ $50 o'clock today, % women
only, and tonight will address both sexes.