Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1890-05-02


"No, | do not think there has been a
very rapid change in public sentiment in
favor of women physicians" said DR..
Emily Blackwell, as she talked with me
about the difficulties which she and her
sister, DR.. Elizabeth Blackwell had to
contend with when they established
themselves in New York nearly forty
years ago.
1.-The change has not been rapid one;
it has been very slow, very reluctant,
and it is yet far from complete.
Eyes, we did have trouble, much of it,
in establishing ourselves here My sis
ter, DIR. Elizabeth Blackwell preceded
me by several years. She spent two or
three years reading under the direction
of physicians and then applied for adj
mission to the medical colleges in New
York, Boston and Philadelphia. But her
application was denied in every instance
on the ground that there was no prece-
dent for such an action and that it would
be an improper innovation upon estab'
lished custom But at last a medical
school at Geneva in this state, admitted
her, and she took her degree there in
1S49-the first degree in medicine grant
ed to any woman in the United States.
She continued her studies in Paris and
London, ard after had received my de-
gree from the school in Cleveland we
came here to New York.
SOCIAL osTRACIsM.
"Did we meet with much opposition
Well, we found it impossible to rent an
office, so strong was the opposition to the
idea of women practicing medicine. We
had to buy a house in order to get any
place in which to open an office.
"But there was never any unpleasant
personal experience. There tts social
ostracism, of course, and that was very
unpleasant, and for a long time none but
few men physicians would hold con-
situations with u.s. From the beginning
a few eminent men, foremost among
above the prevailing prejudice and con-
suited with us and advised us just as
with any young physician. For the most
part, however the men physicians re-
fused to recognize us, fought against U.S.
and a large number of the medical So
cieties threatened to expel any member
who consulted with woman physician"
"And yet you say, DR.. Blackwell, that
all the change which has come about
since public sentiment was like that has
not been rapid one? Rather is it not
wonderful that it has been so great?"
"No," and DR.. Blackwell's strong. kind
ly face, framed in its soft, white hair,
took a more positive expression; mo,
there is so much more that ought to come
about that what has been seems almost
small in comparison. What women have
gained has been not by grace of popular
favor, but by virtue of hard work, per-
sistent effort and proved ability. And
they have not yet received nearly all that
their work ought to have gained for
them. The popular prejudice against wo-
men physicians is still very strong. You
know that yourself"
yes" admitted, 81 know numbers
of people whose aversion to the idea of
a woman doctor is so strong that they
would always prefer any young and I'M
tried man physician to successful wo-
man of recognized ability and reputa-
ton"
PUBLIC OPINION
"And as long as that is the case" said
DR.. Blackwell. 1--WE can't feel very COM
placent about the change in public opin-
ion. The admission of women to med
ical societies has come about so slowly,
too. | think the first was when was
admitted to the old journal association,
then the County Medical society, twenty
five years ago or more, when DIR. Isaac
Taylor was president Now women are
admitted, | think, into nearly if not
quite all the county associations and to
most of the medical societies. But it is
only very recently that the doors have
been opened for them in those of Boston
and Philadelphia.
"Pubic hospitals are not open to wo
men physicians. They cannot hold PC
sitions in them, they cannot study as in
terms, they cannot attend the clinics hel,
in connection with them, they are de
barred from ali of the many and import
ant benefits that men physicians gair
from these large public institutions. Ii
private hospitals, particularly those
founded or supported partly or entirely
by women, they have all of these ad
vantages, but their exclusion from tn,
others is not only handicap upon thu
advanced work which they might &C
complish if they had the opportunity, bu
it is the result and the proof of that larg,
body of hostile public sentiment which
still exists against them.
"This opportunity for advanced worl
in medicine is the thing which ! woult
most like to see women gain. They hav,
done a little, it is true-written a few
books and articles which have attractec
attention, done little original work il
extending the bounds of medical knowl
edge. But they could and would do mucl
, more if they had the necessary opportu
mites for such work. What they mos
need now is to be able to prosecute post
graduate studies in medicine. There ar
many who have the ability and the desir
to do this, and when larger opportunitie
have been granted them they will be abb
to help in the work of extending tn
boundaries of medical science and throw