The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-01-09

The opponents of the bill introduced by Mr..
Koiner in tho 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 Virginian, 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
IF the bill which possess any element Of
soundness namely. the fact that to obtain le-
male physicians who have enjoyed the adj
vantage Of a general practice, prerequisite
Of great importance, it is necessary 10 20 90
other communities, and the fact that as a rule
male physicians are more capable than female
Of exercising strong moral influence oyer the
insane simply because they are generally
stronger in body and frmer in Will.
The assertion that the bill has It's 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 60 elsewhere for
female physicians at this period in the his
tory of medical science in Virginia should not
be allowed to diminish the chances of the bill
becoming law. II the interests of our ie-
male insane are to be considered first it is q
matter of indifference in what quarter the
services of female physicians are secured. To
entertain "A contrary view is to subordinate
the dictates of humanity to prejudice and
passion as cruel under the circumstances as
they are untimely.
For many reasons it would he preferable to
tons 1t cannot be very long before there viii
be in this State a sufficient number in actual
practice OF medicine TO furnish 20 tho author-
ties of our insane asylums the necessary lati-
tude for making u selection. Nothing is more
clearly inscribed in the book Of the future than
the fact that the medical profession in Vircinia
is to be freely thrown open to intelligent and
educated women, This is largely the case al
ready in Maryland, a Southern Common
wealth The boards of our insane asylums
in their endeayor 10 obtain trained female
physicians will not find it necessary TO 20
further north than Baltimore. a city that IS
essentially Southern in its feelings and senti-
ments.
The argument that in the treatment Of the
female insane the greater moral force exer-
cisod 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 rs to their knowledge
If medicine We have yet TO hear that the
many noble women who devote their lives 20
teaching do not exercise as much control over
their pupils as male teachers. From every
ones circle Of acquaintance a number of
women can be selected who if placed in
positions of authority would be as supreme
in their moral power as the same number OF
men. The female physicians in our insane
esylums would deal exclusively with mem
bers of their own sex, and would be supported
by all the physical and moral force of their
respective establishments 2 fact of which
the insane under their management would be
perfectly aware
II IS not simply strong personality which
the physician in the female wards need. IL is
also that sympathetic personality which is
only found in members of the same sex. Il
stands 10 reason that a woman IS more likely
to understand all the emotionsand feelings Of
her own sex. even in the instance where the
intellect is oyerthrown, and TO exercise more
soothing influence than men in tho same
contact.
There isapractical demand for female physi-
clans IL our insane asylums. and this demand.
which unlike the opposition. is enterely dis
interested from professional point of view.
should be compiled with if only to test the
business of the grounds upon which it is
based.
IT has been the general impression in Viz