Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-07-09
WOMEN AND MEDICINE.
MEDICAL PROFESSION THOUGHT TO
Dc THE BEST FOR THEM.

An Interview with Dr. y. ~. voorhiss, 81
Sew York, One ~ the Pioneer stadents
In the study Of Laws That Govern the
nody-rrsIadice m obstacle.
The marriage question recently discussed
hv medical women In ~ bearing upon
members u ihelf profession has brought
out expressions Of thought upon the sub
feet from many who did not at FIRST put
themselves on record Among these Is
MR. T. d Noorhies. whose long medical
experience has covered the period ~ the
rise and progress II the woman physician
from the time when she was a small and
comparatively IN welcome factor un'il now,
when abe l. on Acknowledged and valued
power In tho social aud professional econ
omy of modern me-
Several years ago Mr. voorhies was the
cause of stlmulaiinr oflcisl Inquiry Into
the abuse. pfscticed against the Aleut
women, aud recent reforms In Alaska are
directly due 10 her efforts Bnt although
ehe Il an earnest friend and partisan n
women, her aversion 10 my sort " public
Appoarancei i sowcll known that her friends
held out small encouragement that she
would give m opinion.
Therefore II q with considerable misgiv
ing that slt down In the handsome draw
ing room and await the coming u the TYP
icai medical woman
Presently theru enters beautiful Old
laiy wearing .ufi. white gown, with
little blue shawl folded acruss her shoni
dsrs-sufoly somebody's grandmother \
woman who's presence j. su sweet that
one forgots how nno aud commanding n is
also
This curious. winning personal charm L.
notable because ID must have lssn r. m0st
important factor in tho success this tu.
marknble woman bias achieved in her prp.
ieeion.
ur wouk ~ socrrr uovIx.
The same uueltluna which have already
ben discussed 20 wit should women
physician, mhrfyiH and Is " % .slhlo 10
iulnll tho dntlcs NJ wife aud mother aud
~ The s,mr ilno attend ~ The demands %
medical rmtilt.f" afr rrpponndui. aud
the nhswer comea promptly
well judging by my own experience, I
should say Yrsi
81 have ltsu able 70 keep hnua. fir many
year. md look closely after home iutrfustr
besides receiving n gDo'lly numl~r of pro.
fcss.onll calls uvcry day. I so. no reason
Why a woman. married of sinrie. N shr l.
willing 10 devote herself 10 hrf home and
her profession. may not make homie happy
aud herself independent, be- " more vnlna
10 her own family, 10 other homes aud 10
the world II large than the sorlstY woman
who spends hef afternoons calling. driving
and shopping hor evenings a. dlnncr..
hrstet., operas aud late suppefa. hcf mora
Ing, IN bid " "a tho dryssmakef's leaving
servants ~ run be- house aud n run her
husband ini1dsbt, | hear mora Rrnanines
aud lamentations frum soriuiy women oy,r
the cafss Of Housekeeping aud family
than from uuy other class"
Then you arr In favor Of profession
for wnmcn"
THAT j. another question. but am.
Aud also think medicine u hsr l-ast licld
u usefulness, although god many 10.
cllne 10 the law aud tho church. OF roursa
preaching il ever easier than practice, and
looking after the slul IA much les trou bic
than caring TOT the body. The three pro
fssslons arr all Tuod Tor women II they ary
endowed with m aptitude for either, and
there u no rvhson why they should not Huc.
coed there ne we'll Ne man.
NonAs's GnrAyrsr OBSTACLE
THE worst obstacle In their path will b.
the prejudice Of the masses and the oppnsl,
tion of fellow members Of the profession,
but no matter how high opposition aud
prriudloc mount they will h. sufnnunted
In the end. Every woman lawyer who Oh
tslns redress Tor one N her sex who Il OPP
pressed and wrongrd vindicaie. her right
10 10 a rscuer even woman preacher
who save. sinner adds star to the crown
Of her ejcieingi every woman doctor who
eurrs q patient whom man doctor has
hailed 10 relieve .cor-- triumph for every
other woman In the profession"
That l. triumph that has probably ~.
isn been repeated In your cxporieno., Mn.
voorhiesw
Eyes. and have aa.n great deal 81 sui.
frrlng Ia my day. No much that wonder
any eau doubt that II IL better 10 h. dead
than 20 b. alive | have h.n sitty.four
winters In this cold world. and for thirty
years l have pnstiocd me,iiclna Ia New
York city, but my rur'd patiouis arr all
the great wUrld ever hears of me. Tor I
have never In my lilo put up a sign 81 NY
calling Al tho advertising l crave i
given In tho gratitude. confidence aud love
OF my patients
These years must have shown you
great changes Ia the status of women ply.
slciansW
"wonderiul changes. indeed" was tho
rply. when q small hand VI women
students were ilrt admitted 10 tho cllnlc.
AZ Bellevue hospital their appearance wa.
Invariably hailed by hissrs and gruans
frpm the gentlemen. This was early IN
The sixties Professor Ward was dean of
the college aud did hi, bat for us. bat
many OF the prui,asorS IA bellevue were
with the opposition. and We had hard
road 10 travel
WINS THr CiiAxuE cANg.
FINALLY tho columns u Tho Times and
Tribune wcrr openei for tho ventilation
aud discussion NJ the-. abuses. which were
thus abated Hut lady dactors were Looked
npon with distulsi, 4 stirring continent
nhd scorufll shrig al The shoulder wrrr
Tho popular accompaniment 60 any Allu.
.iou To them. And men did all tLey could
10 hinder the prugru., Of q movement
which has won the gratitude Of millions n
afflicted women. Well. tho students who
hlsscd 10 those days Arc pracilclng now,
aud many Of thcm have sent their own pa, I
ticnts, their friends aud their familr. 10 I
me for treatment
Thirty Year. ago therv were. believe. /
thrre women physicians lu New YORK! now /
here are hundrds II you want 10 Know .
how highly they nfr csioumcd. why not 10 [
lulre Of tho ladies who gladly sosk their .
Men doUiors now recognize .
Dur nsrinlnoss 90 women physicians in .
various parts " The country send their IA .
sienia 10 me, aud one vrfY eminent doctor I
IN this city has sent me over aOO cn.s.- .
ndir, N the families ln witch be- prnrtlccd. I
Nho prefer 20 be treated by one u their own 7
'ox New YORK World
When Nine pFflsrgln Anishe,l the last
portrait that was painted NJ Won Atbltkr
She received ffnu him tNs ,li,,...,.,..r