Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1891-04-28
WOMEN AS PHYSICIANS.
TROUBLESOME CLOGS IN THE WV
OF THEIR PROGRESS.

r"o''c Prejudice and Professions, on,o.,
tioh--kept Out of Hospital. nm, na
'"e Advantages of CIImics--Advanc.. NJ.
Satisfactory.
NO. 90 not think there has been a
very rapid change in public sentir,ent i,
- u women physicians" said DR.
Emily Blackwell, as she talked with mo
ABOUT me difficulties which she and her
sister, DR.. Elizabeth Blackwell had 70
contend with when they established
themselves in New York nearly fortv
years ago. -o-''
The change has not been a rapid one
I" mas been very slow, very reluctant
ana II IS yet far from complete.
fes, we did have trouble. much If II
IN establishing ourselves here. Nv sis.
Ter, DIR. Elizabeth Blackwell. preceded
me by several years. She spent two or
'i.ree years reading under the direction
VI physicians and then applied for adj
mission to the medical colleges in New
YORK, Boston and Philadelphia. But her
application was denied in every insta nce
On the ground that there was no prece-
ueht Tor such an action and that it would
ne an improper innovation upon estab.
ilshed custom. But at last a medical
school at Geneva, in this state. admitted
her, and she took her degree there in
lo49-the first degree in medicine grant.
ed TO any woman in the United States
one continued her studies in Paris and
London, and after had received nv de-
gree from the school in Cleveland we
came here to New York.
SOCIAL osTRACIsM.
DID we meet with much opposition?
We'll, we found it impossible to rent an
ONCE so strong was the opposition to the
idea OF women practicing medicine We
had TO buy house in order to get any
place IN which to open an office.
But there was never any unpleasant
personal experience. There was social
ostracism, of course, and that was very
Unpleasant and for long time none but
few men physicians would hold con.
situations with us. From the beginning
-" SHinciit Hltil, foremost among
whom was Dr. Willard Parker, rose
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 us
and large number of the medical So
cletles 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 DIR. Blackwell strong, kind
ly face, framed in its soft, white hair
took 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 10 have gained for
them. The popular prejudice against wo-
men physicians is still very strong. You
know that yourself"
Yes, admitted Il 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 a successful wo-
man of recognized ability and reputa-
ton"
PUBLIC OPINION.