Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1892-02-05
A TEMPORARY CHECK.

| ~ dCtASouJ CApltSSCu OplulOu
of the House of Delegates, the body in
which is located the latest expression of the
popular will; i'll opposition to the wishes Of
thousands of men and women of this Com
monwealth expressed by respectful petit
tions and otherwise; in opposition to the
petitions OF large portion Of the most dis
tinguished members Of the medical profes
sion of the State, and in opposition to the
experience of every asylum for the insane
in which the reform has been tried. 1t was
done in conformity with the views and i'm
portunities Ofsome of tine officers of tile
Virginia asylums; in conformity with the
views and entreaties of few-and that few
far from being distinguished OF
the medical profession, and in conformity
with an ignorant, preludiced but conscien
tious conviction. That is a fair Statements
of their impelling motives. We very much
doubt, from the utter absence of informa
tion shown III the debate, if single one of
the twenty-siX, though about to legislate on
a subject of the grAyest Importance to the
hundreds of helpless insane women con-
fined in the asylums of the State and Who'll
" under the medical treatment of doctors
Of tine opposite sex, ever wrote to single
asylum in the United States where the re-
form had been inaugurated and tried-in
some of them for many yearS-fOr one word
OF Information on the subject. We very
much doubt from the utter absence of in
formation shown i'll the debate, il a single one
of the tWentysiX ever addressed a letter to
Ole Of the Women S Medical Colleges of the
United States for information Of the pro-
gress of women as physicians and the fitness
and success of those WAC had adopted the
specially OF alienist as their own; OF if
one OF the twenty-six ever attempted to
procure any original information on the
subject, Or did anything else save content
himself with information at second
nand from men in Virginia who had never
in their lives seen woman physician in the
female ward of an insane asylum, acting
with the same authority and responsibility
as an assistant male physician. So mucn
for the temporary defeat OF the reform, and
the equipment for competent legislation
possessed by the men VINO inflicted it.
The future of .hiS reform is as bright
and clear us the day. 10 no new question
that we can remember to have seen presen-
ted to the people Of Virginia, has there been
SUCH a general and enthusiastic rally as to
this one. The next legislature will pass
this bill with not a half dozen dissenting
votes in either house, so rapidly does pre-
judice and indifference crumble before
progress and humanity. Those who are
pressing this reform will never cease their
efforts as long as there is a single helpless
insane woman, no matter how humble III
the exclusive medical care of male ply
stefan in single one of our asylums.
In the mean time Il great deal Of good
has been accomplished. The discussion Of
the subject has brought the asylums more
prominently into the view and cOnsidera-
ton Of the people than they have been for
fifty years. 1t has also directed the atten-
ton OF the medical profession more gener-
ally to them than it ever was before, and has
shown to the ambitious of the profession a
new field for bright, progressive men. 1t will
induce more competition hereafter at the
elections in them, bring new candidates,
and will extend the range of selection for
the boards in gathering good material for
all positions.
1t has also shown the young women of
the State that in two years there will be a
new field open to them, and that those who
are wise enough to prepare themselves in
time can profit by it. There will probably
be no lack of Virginia women physicians
when the law passes in 1894.
AS great deal has been said about this
bill having originated in sentiment, land
as that was frequently urged against it, it
may be proper to give its origin. The first
step ever taken towards the introduction
Of women physicians in the female wards
of Virginia asylums was taken by Mr..
John W. Todd, a commission merchant of
Staunton, a member Of the w. l.. Asylum
nearly three years ago looking to the APP
pOintment of a woman physician. The
second step was the appointment by the
President of the Board, DR.. S. II. Moffett,
a physician, of a committee to write, make
all inquiries where it had been tried, and
report Oh it. The third step was the re-
port by that committee consisting of w.
M. McAlister of Bath, a lawyer, and MI.
Todd, who had made searching inquiry and
made a favorable report which was followed
Inv 4bo oil of oh MI
three were practical business men with not
a particle of sentiment in the matter-they
were simply men who were on the board
and knew from observation the proprie-
ty and necessity of what they did. as did
the other members of the board Who sec
onded their efforts. The vote of that
Board on the election of woman physician
stood:
Ayes-Gen. Thos. l.. Rosser, of Abe
marie; Col. Saml f. Goldman, Of Cumber-
land, (now Judge of the Sd judicial circuit) :;
w. M. McAllster, OF Bath: DIR. S II.
Moffett. of Rockingham; Judge J. X. Ed
mondson, of Rockbridge, and J. w. Todd
and z. H. Trout, of Staunton.
Noes-Maj. J. T. Beckham, of Alexan-
dra, and Holmes Boyd, of Winchester
After the woman physician, Dr.. C. l..
Haynes Of South Carolina, had served a
year, SO satisfactory had the experiment
proved in the eyes of the board, that by a
unanimous vote it reelected her and increas-
ed her salary. That is the whole story of
the election of IA woman physician at the
only asylum in Virginia that has one, and
of the success of the experiment.
The spoilsmen at Richmond have a keen
scent for salaried office. What possible