Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1892-02-26
FRIDAY MORNING. FEB. &c. 1892
IVOMEN AS PRACTITIONERS OF
MEDICINE.

1t was distinct manifestation of the en-
lightenment and progress in the ranks Of
the medical profession of Virginia, that il
the recent contest for the employment of
woman physician in the female wards O
each insane institution, it was the rares
thing to find a medical practitioner Of an,
noticeable standing OF success in his pro
fession. that refused to sign the petitions
therefor, and that the movement received
the voluntary and in many cases public
support of every physician of any distinc
tion in the State. 1t is interesting to note
now, since the much needed reform has
been temporarily checked by the action Of
members of the Virginia Senate, that The
Virginia Medical Monthly, published al
Richmond by Landon b. Edwards. NJ. D..
journal abreast with the professional ad
vance throughout the world, fully recognizes
the situation and in good time warns The
dull member Of the profession of what is to
come In its issue of this month the edl-
tor says:
eff, as seems demonstrated, woman has be-
come the lost Of trained nurses, and shown her
self equal to the occasion in times OF emergen-
cy, as in cases of accident, the sudden gush OF
hemorrhage, ETC., requiring composure of
manner, quickness of recognition, GOODNESS
of Judgment steadiness of hand, knowledge
of the uses of medicines, surgical appliances
ETC., and ability to aptly apply them in mo-
ments of ordeal, then surely it will be con-
coded that it is not improbable that she
may become the equal of at least the average
run of male practitioners. But in face of the
demonstrated ability and efficiency of women
as doctors all through the North and West
MANY of whom already are SouthernerS--it does
not need argument to point to the possibilities
and probabilities in the case These things
now stand as indisputably proven. So that tt
argate further in this direction, is to do like
the fellow who takes stand by the side OF al
electric car track to discuss whether OF no
the motor can move the car, while in fact
with "no pullee and no pushee, it is going
like hellee all the samee."
Gin the United States, there are now eight
distinctive graduating medical colleges fol-
women alone. Two OF them are already well
established in the South Baltimore and At
talta) with regularly increasing classes
The Woman's Medical College of Cincinnati i:
also graduating increasing numbers from
South of that city. In addition to the above.
there are Al medical colleges for both seees
In short, in round figures. 800 female gradu-
ates in medicine are being turned out annual
ly from the colleges. A large number are
from the South, and naturally many will cas-
their lots in Southern communities. 1t is idle
to attempt to resist the logic Of facts. In {
few more years, female doctors will cease to
be curiosities in the South. In the meantime
it will be we'll for the prudlsh to begin row
to make up his mind what he will do in the
event of his being called in consultation by
one of these ladies. As for the vast ma ority
of the obServant and conservative element OF
the profession, they will receive the properly
qualified female doctor in each instance as
she comes
This is the warning voice of a vigilant
Waterman upon the walls, who-while the
opponents of women in the medical profess
sion are busy housing around the State cap
tol buttonhol1ng equally ignorant legisla
tors with entreaties to stop the leaks-sees
advancing the great wave which is destino(
to sweep both buttonholerS and buttonhole(
away.