The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-01-06
uoyry DooroRs IyIysAyE AsrLUMs
Additional Arguments Advance" "s"'"'
Their Appointment.
Editor Of The Times:

containing an article entitled lHo
of Weaklincs.r So far as | can see tnere %
not an ARGUMENT advanced in favor OF inc
positiou II seeks 70 maintain, though u ~
dulgos freely IN abuse and contains 'o''
errors. ,,,o-sca was
established bv the colony Of Virginia III no
IL was presided over by q native II 'Ailan,
james Gait The attending physician, W.
General practitioners Of the city Oh " iIIi.n nam
burr. then the capital OF this state. ,,J
hospital for persons OF unsouuu N.ru ~
IDIOTS was established for tue proper e"iS
1 and treatment OF that GiIcleI CHS "a
/ our popu.atiOn. and not 70 encouI"se y.
trornote the welfare OF women Doctors
/ al no time. and under no co-sllelae.oH
I should the latter factor enter INTO INC NJ ~.
arement Of our unfortunate insane. AZ -.
time the woman doctors" hal not maui nss
/ appearance IN the stage. and women even -
/ Massachusetts,. we're content 70 ulsnls eu9
/ p0.ition signed them b. the great creator -
I Adams Lelpmste-a position our y go
/ ladies' have been indispOsed 10 give up, 80"
/ % tao PRESENT day. as proven oy MP 80
meut IN reference 10 the women "5-.oia.
"Of all these there IS not one pIHc''0'Ns -
Virginia. Ill.
ms remark is really the gist OF the whole
I question As physicians women nave 70 .a'
only reached the experimental s'a~o a. 49,
! where 4 lew unusually enoO"eh women
/
lro. essiOn. but these ladies nave also l.l-o
practice and cannot be induced o. come 90 "
/ virginia asylum az the small salary tA5 o."1o
/ j. aUle u give them. 100000
no one can admire and bestoN greater
praise than tie writer on such physicians a.
/ Miss jacob. of New lOrk. 5ut al VOL z.
/ with ~ D. appended 10 their names axe "n-
/ fortunately not Miss Jacobs. III women
! doctors are failures unless sustained "-1
pro1ped up By Government or STATE ai-
/ continents. then i'm the name OF hu.I4-i''1
/ vyhatr.rLt has tho Legislature O. inilct upon
the insane OF tlls state such pracl'touel,
Is IL because their affection renders tAen iii-
! corable - protest against beng maue SUD
/ ie.4s Il e,.er!fueuts. for sO0tl Lecauso %
/ WON has 49, I'll. %. attached ID her h"iH9,
/ thou,h not capable OF taking care oi htIsei-
unless the Legislature forces her upon lA0
insane, ,....... -,
Hay.ns had q long experience IN living II
/ an insane asylum and IN It's management
/ feel t.at ain qualified 10 express the opinion
/ that i is very dlIcult 70 ind any pAyslelAH
} male or female suitable o. take charge OF We
/ wards Of an insane asylum. lhey must not
/ only 10 good practitioners. but thoroughly
Wnsefsh and have "a natural talent lcr gam
| inc the love and confidence OF tleT patients.
| IL IS very difficult 10 ind any one with these
qualifications. even selecting IRON the large
number OK male PHYSICIANS, but u Would TO
impossible TO choose suitable one WueA THO
the indicator.
The argument that unless the asyums are
thrown open TO the women doctors theF cane
MT advance IN this state IS very poor one.
as only three or four women can p ssluiy De
provided for IN tat way. and Others there
fore never advance. As long as women doc-
tors are not general practitioners ~ TINS state
as long as our female insane are unaccust ined
20 having female physicians at their AOiieS'
Is long az irglnlans arc ia ths
ID T.. Il
TO attend their families, 50 long Will the Ie-
male physician question lie only an expert
ment here, and so long Will IL be rash ~ tho
/ General Assembly To attempt 10 make TIE IN
sane the subject OF experiment ot crude H.
experienced practitioners. although twenty
Northern colleges may prefix VI. j.. 10
/ female names. The tact that they sue
ceel in passing the examination OF the
/ State Examining Board IS not guarantee
/ that they are suitable and experienced pAysi-
clans The universal verdict OK MANKIND
/ prOves this by the fact that any one freshly
/ crowned with an NJ. ID. has 10 work his way
! patiently Tor years 10 gain confidence and eA-
/ uerience-the old physician is always sought
/ when me can be obtained because mankind
! knows that there is vast difference between
/ theory aud practice.
As Il matter of fact. In our asvlums tho
4 female insane have every safeguard possible
thrown around them. in every ward there are
two or three female attendants whose duty 1t
is 20 bo with the patients always, and who
are required TO be present wien any one.
physician or not. enters the ward.
Every asylum has as matrOn a lady Of stand
ing and experience whose duty II Is 20 visit
I the wards constantly. and 10 extend 10 the
/ inmates all the sympathy in their p wer, and
/ e. give to them an thelI mental trouble every
/ care they may require. Copied articles ~ tie
/ same issue of the stanton indicator cast a
/ slur on the moral character of male physl-
/ clans. alleging because IN one case and ln
/ that case there Is no proof OF the asserted
| fact person. unworthy % be g member OK
that h0nOred profession. has been guilty OF
/ conduct towards female patients that WAS im-
/ proper and immoral that all male physicians
D. should be regarded as amt % render % IN
sane females the professional service her sane
/ sister all over the state requires at bis hands.
Ia would be equally rs just % condemn the
| whole Christian church because more than
one OF its preachers have been guilty OF the
/ grossest immoral conduct. and % hold mp %
/ scorn the entire female population because
some az tier Sex have been guilty of im-
/ morality.
Whenever the advocates of female physi-
| clans are able TO show that more female ln-
sane are restored % sanity under treatment OF
/ female physicians. that the morality under
their care Is reduced that the happiness and
welfare of the insane has been pr noted bY
! their presence. not 10y mere assertions but
/ by carefully prepared statistics then vii 70
DE proper and right tor tho General Assembly
10 require az the board Of directors that
women physicians should be employed DO tie
asviums. but until thcn such action viii not
only be- urjustiiab.e. but even criminal. tor
the insane should bee always tenderly and
ea-etu.ly protected and shielded. but never
be subjected 10 cruel and useless expert
[ ments.
Osr Wro MAS C1NNEcIUD VIII OCa AulI
IlL Il .FItE lLtI5.
sun..rno Court OF Appeals.