The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-01-05
Women in OR Insane A.yluin'.

In those DAYS Of new ideas and innoTallCh7'
push and energy. would 10 not oe wen ~
pause and look about Ms in oIoer TO I"-'--
take I'M the situ. q T.. az We us Ouf mao
rnsh may not do that winch Do some aLot
time night become Aurtiul, and winch we
may re fret when 700 late 90 correct TIE Owl
or t0 apply tle romeuy 800
1flate there have appeared in some OK inc
leading pa cr3 If Virginia articles adFoc ll.-
the emp Ovueut of female PHYSICIANS 10 ine
female departments OK the several insane
l0sgitais Oh our State. These have been puo-
lshed id support ot the measure known as
the "h DINER ilL lately oIelel I'D lAe 't'.-
cfal Assembly. This bull would ~ passed..
make radical chan e' IL me adinlIlsi .-.'-,9
of these Dtals and perhaps would WORK
harm TO the proper discipline OF our
asvlurns a thing $50 essential 90 ti-eil
GOOD management and harmonious work
ing. without which these great STARE
charities would fall far short OK their
present usefulness. SO that, ll tLet' ' ANY
likelihood of these much tO be regretted con
s..ucnccs arising would it not .o ~ncsi lo
think well upon tEe subject ln aA us D.
ing5 le-0ro enactug II aud maAiu- 10 lie
law off our land; We are not among $50
who would OF. ose this measure Simply .e'
cause d. has TOR lia OBJECT inc p-'c."- ' "
female doctor In charge Cd, certain i'Il
oil our asY.ums. blt 0n tire contrary " u.N
savll therewcre among our ieina.e gl"i4Atts
of medicine women OF known AMI ul ues-
toned d ty. tile idea should not De lnf--y
rule.y aside as unworthy Oh cons a.l'ii.
but should he uti-Iely considered "-' noe
tel 0n TOO hast y even fl u. 800 .If t'.
ready to iuiOr-e this new .epIIture' t-.el
afu1t. Z others Uelu. the reason t..Hi wee nave
u0t tie elias 0t lady d ct.fs l-ieiloi tY-.ote
from which o. se.eo. loi these il-.o.. sans poe
sitOrs.
Having .led for many years DID tse nel-h
bJrLO0d of the Eastern rn4tic Asylum Tie
oldest IN the ntel Stat may bee pare
dOuol Tor saying THAT perhaps SOME iellufrss
of the internal management uf t.e-o iist iu-
uous may De known 90 mr tIat my A.- Ntfe
come 10 the knowledge ul our friends job ot-ef
portions If the state more remote from Their
locality. Our insane -rlun5 arc Nl-an-
lied with superintendent. vino is t.e
chief executive officer aud heal nl tAf
institution iu u.l resU Gets. There HIe $50 H--
sistant phy-.ciIus when the number oi la
tieuts ustilt5 this number. one ODD clAi-e o-
tho male the other In charge of the female
wafds Tie assistant p' y.iciau ia charge ol
tine female department has under h's llrer-
ton InatrOu. who l- an educated Virginia
lady. and She iu turn has general super' sion
over ul of tine female wards, ln each oi
which theirs are, no 1911 times. three lady aileh-
dants who look pal tculary alter the welfare
and comfort of the patients IN their respec-
tive wards.
Thus it vii Dee seen that the boards O. our
several ius. ltut.ons have not been Negligent
in rowing around this un. Hrtunate class Ol
our population those safeguards which are
SGD necessary. and WHO IRON their very Aeip-
le5sness appeal SD strongly % tie 81 npatny
0i the more toward aud fortunate Ot our lel-
low citizens.
Why enact Jaw making the employment
of female phlsIciaus obligatory upon tle
board OF visitors 90 our several aaylums, our
boards are compO-ei or gentlemen az in-
te-rlty. intelligence and of the highest social
standing. and the friends or the insane
throughout the state may be assured THAT pa
the selection Ot persons 90 overlook ana care
for these uni rtunatcs committed o.. their
charge viii select those wn0 iu their iuIg-
meut are best suited for these trying posi-
tlous. ON the other hand. if they are CONE
PEELED. owing o. provision OF law. 10 select
from q certain class % person not 0l their own
choosing Is 10 not clear 10 All un iased minds
that they viii feel handicapped 20 TO small
degree and would. perhaps eel that tho zee
spunslbilty oi the management oi these in
ST tuuOus had 10 some extent, az least. been
taken ont of their hands and placed I'm the
halls OF legislation.
Would 10 be altogether inst TO these boards
% compel them % select one Of their pruci-
pal medical officers lr m any one particular
class If people and vet hold them 90 tle
strictest accountability 10 tie management of
these institutions In all departments. iuclut-
ing that department in which they had been
compelled 81 force OF law 20 employ female
f.--.J t5o+ .i., ,,..s.,,, ~ ~. Iii te. to
come necessity iram moral point
Of view Let Us see hoN this u.s.