Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1891-05-22
Woman Pushes on in the Medical Profession
HARD FIGHT TO GAIN ENTRANCE, BUT hEF
PATH Is NOW RID OF IT'S THORNs.

A HARD F1GHI III GAIN EN1KANCE, BUI hEk
PATH Is NOW RID OF IT'S THORNs.
Philadelphia Kecordl
The woman doctor is here to stay, and Phil
adelphia, her god mother, has more physicians
of the sex than any other city i'll the country.
There are about twelve practicing in the city,
two-thirds Of whom are graduates ID the
Women's Medical College, at Twenty-first
street and North College avenue, the first in
Stitution established for the study of medicine
by the weaker vessel.
THE FIRST BOLD ENTRANCE.
Elizabeth Blackwell who lives in England,
was the first woman doctor, and her entrance
to the study Of medicine was attended by no
little misgiving, many doctors Ominously
shaking their heads. Only her strong will
and unt1inching courage carried this fair
worshiper of science through the ordeal of
entering her alma mater at Geneva, n. Y.
UnaVaillng appeals for admission were ell
tered throughout the country and the Faculty
of the Geneva school. assured that she would
not enter the VIGOROUSLY bOlsterOus class OF
that year, left her fate in the hands OF the
said students; but her admission would only
be accepted as the unanimous decision OF th1
class. Only one voted may" but he was
lampooned into giving way On the entrance
of Miss Blackwell the class at once turned
from the noisest and most unmanageable to
the quietest set Of students in the country.
Miss Blackwell graduated with high honors,
but the Faculty at once closed its doors against
any more women.
PHILADEIPHIA's COLLEGE.
In 1850, when the Women's Medical College
was opened in this city, such opposition was
manifested that the male doctors engaged for
the college were Ostracised from fellowship
with members OF their profession Some years
passed before this unreasonable prejudice
wore off and the expelled doctors were rein
stated in their societies. No better evidence
Of their success as practitioners could be men
toned than the fact that in the United States
and Canada at present fOrty-nine colleges adj
nit women, and nine institutions are exclu-
siyely for the fair sex. Three of the profess
sors in Philadelphia's college are women
and men physicians now hold consultations
with their sisters OF the profession.
SUCCESS IN THE PROFESSION.
The doctress endures the rigors OF the phys
as we'll as her brother, and is as long-IIved
Many of them have married, and others were
the wives and daughters OF doctors. The
adoption of hygenic dress by these ladies has
had no little influence in the gradual advance
of dress reform among their patients, emDrac-
ing some of the leading women in the city.
The list of graduates OF the college IN TINS
city shows the disheartenlng and uphill hgh'
of the fair sex for recognition. Even as re
Gently as 1887 there were only thirty graduates
but this wear the institution has 1S5 pupils
The Young ladies come from all over the
world and graduates are now practlcIng III
Burmah, India. Switzerland, Russia, emma
and Japan. Indian girls and colored young
women also hold diplomas from this college
Last year the students included King Eng liu
of Foechew, China, and Fanny Denner, OF
Zurich, Switzerland.