Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1891-12-18
The Koiner Bill for Female Physicians
in the Female Wards of Insane
AsyIums.
GARD FOR THE COMMONEST MORALITY.
Iron the Richmond Times. Dec l0th.l

REQUIRED BY THE MOST ORDINARY RE
GARD FOR THE COMMONEsT MORALITY.
[From the Richmond Times Dec 10TH
MI. Koiner Of Augusta, On Wednesday
introduced a bill in the House which pro-
vided for the appointment of afemale phys
ician in the female wards OF the insane
asylums of this State. The bill is designed
to amend the law as it stands at present,
the operation of which has given rise to a
feeling Of dissatisfaction which has i'll
creased very rapidly in recent years.
This dissatisfaction has been entirely
just and reasonable. Custom merely has
given legitimacy to the employment of
male physicians alone in the female wards
of our insane asylums. There are offices
to be performed in these wards which can
only with decencv fall upon female physi-
clans. There are influences to be allaved
which only an intelligent woman, not sim
ply trained as q nurse, but thoroughly edu-
Gated as physician, is capable OF allay-
ing. The most ordinary regard for the
commoneSt morality. as well as q proper
consideration for the claims of humanity
when stricken and degraded by lunacy, re-
quires that the female patients in our asy-
lums shall receive the professional atteI-
ton of one of their own sex.
The bill introduced by MI. KOner pro-
poses an Innovation upon the general rule
which has preyaile ], and is, therefore, like
ly to meet with some opposition for person
al PERSONS. The spirit which objected to
the admission OF women into the profes-
sion Of medicine, however extended the pre-
paration through which they have passed
| before securing their diplomas, will also
seek to oijstruCt the cOnSummation of the
change in our asylulnS which is now sug-
gested. This is Only what is to be expected.
but we do not believe that it has the SYM
pathy Of the most enlightened sections of
the medical profession.
1t certainly has not the sympathy of the
great mass Of people, who are, after all. the
| Olly impartial and disinterested judges in
the premises. So far as any conclusion can
he drawn from the expression of public
opinion III various forms-ln petitions, in
private expressions of sentiment and in the
public press-Mr. Koiners bill has the
warm support of the people at large. Il
tile friends of the stricken women involved
were consulted they would he found to be
very heartily in favor of the change. 1t
| would be unnatural for them to entertain a
different view under the circumstances.
In the only instance in which the female
physician has been tried in the female wards
Of our insane asylums the experiment has
been entirely satisfactory. The Western
Lunatic Asylum at Stauntan, which has
been managed in an unusually progressive
spirit, has for several years enjoyed the SER
vices of a female physician, VINO was ap-
pointed by tile board Of directors after a
Searching examination, which she passed
very successfully. We are informed by the
Staunton News, one Of the most conserva-
tive and reliable of our exchanges, that her
presence has been especially appreciated 10y
the female patients of improved mental
condition, 'swho know from their own ex-
perence the readiness and SUCCESS with
which a deranged woman can he reached,
influenced and benefited by sympathetic
aud intelligent physician Of her own sex. .
let female physicians, vino have been
carefully educated, and who are admirably
fitted for this work, De selected to fill these
positions, and then let them be treated in