Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1892-01-15
Physicians for tie Insane.
From the Richmond Tines, Jan. 9

I The opponents of the bill introduced by Mr..
koiner in the Legislature, providing for the
appointment Of female physicians to take
charge of the female wards of our insane asy-
lums, are disposed to attribute the favor with
which the proposition has been received to
sentiment alone. This is the position of the
Valley Pagans0n. and it is also the position
of the few journals in this State which are in
accord with its views on this subject.
There are but two objections to the passage
OF the bill which possess any element Of
soundness namely, the ctthat to obtain fe-
male physicians who have enjoyed the adj
vantage OF general practice, prerequisite
| of great importance, it is necessary to 60 to
! male physicians are more capable than fe-
male OF exercising a strong moral influence
over the insane simply because they are gen.
orally stronger in body and firmer in will
The assertion that the bill has its origin in
sentiment is far from being derogatory to its
merits, as sentiment when just and practical,
as in this case, is only phase Of the plainest
good sense.
The necessity of having to go elsewhere for
female physicians at this period in the history
of medical science in Virginia should not be
allowed to diminish the chances of the bill
becoming a law. Ii the interests of our fe-
male insane are to be considered first, it is a
matter of Indifference in what quarter the
entertain contrary view is to subordinate
the dictates of humanity to prejudice and
passions as cruel under the circumstances as
they are unt!mely.
appoint native female physicians to those po-
sitions. 1t cannot be very long before there
will be in this State sufficient number in
actual practice of medicine to furnish to the
sary latitude for making a selection. Nothing
is more clearly inscribed in the book
Of the future than the fact that the
medical profession in Virginia is to
be freely thrown open to intel
the case already in Maryland, Southern
Commonwealth. The boards of our insane
asylums in their endeavor to obtain trained
female physicians will not find it necessary to
90 further north than Baltimore, city that
is essentially Southern in its feelings and
sentiments.
The argument that in the treatment of the
female insane the greater moral force eXer-
cised by men is needed loses its point when it
is remembered that female physicians can be
chosen as much with view to their strength
! of character as to their knowledge of medi-
cine. We have yet to hear that the many no.
BILE women who devote their lives to teaching
pills as male teachers. From every ones Cir
Gle of acquaintance number of wO-
men can be selected who if placed in pO-
stions of authority would be as supreme in
their moral power as the same number of
men. The female physicians in our insane
asylums would deal exclusively with men,
bers of their own SEX and would be supported
by all the physical and moral force Of their
respective establishments, a fact of which the
insane under their management would be
pafectly aware.
1t is not simply strong personality which
the physician in the female wards need. 1t is
also that sympathetic personality which is
only found in members OF the same sex. 1t
stands to reason that woman is more likely
to understand all the emotions and feelings
OF her own sex, even in the instance where
the intellect is overthrown, and to exercise
more soothing influence than men in the same
contact.
There is practical demand for female ply
sicians in our insane asylums. and this de-
mand, which unlike the opp sition, is entire
ly disinterested from a professional point of
view, should be complied with, if only to test
based.