Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-02-20
Selins Grove, Pa.
The American Medical Woman
(CoNrRiBUrEp)

Avn
tCoxTa,BurEp.l
The nineteenth century has been sneerngly de-
nominated the age of woman" The new woman"
has been made the subjec, OF much rdcule. Writers
Of the sterner sex are ever ready to jest about her
assuming the prerogatives Of men, and usurpng the
places formerly occupied by the lords Of creation"
Although the medical woman is woman of to-day,
she is not altogether new not absolutely nm de Steele
for the medical annals Ct all ages contain isolated &C
counts Of women who were doctors Of medicine.
Esculap.us is even said to have had disciples Of
both sexes, and in Egypt as early as the eleventh
century b. C. there existed college of Physicians
admitting women. From the eleventh to the thir-
teenth century A. D. several renowned women lee
tured in the famous medical school of Salerno And
from that time to this the medical colleges of Italy
have at various times had chairs filed by women lee
turers France has also had women distinguished
for their skill and success and patronzed by royal
danes.
Women thus demonstrated their fitness for the pro-
fession, but to the American woman belongs the
proud distinction Of inauguratng the first systematic
effort toward the annexation of the medical field to
the somewhat limited territory recognized a. lying
within the legitimate "sphere of woman"
During the colonial period much of the medical
practice of New England was in the hands OF women
whose qualifications are said to have been acquired
BY the rearing Of their own large families But the
practice Of medicine passed out Of sphere of wom-
the demand for scientific practitioners increased
The of that period were welcome TO the skill
they could attain the school Of experience but were
debarred from sharing the advantages enjoyed
by their brothers at the various medicol colleges.
Still these women must be honored and recognized
the logical predecessors of the having part
| 10 perform 10 the professional life of today.
In the year ,s49 Elizabeth Blackwell acquired the
degree of Doctor OF Medicine at the Medical College
Of Geneva, New York. Today, though less than half
century has passed, more than Ave thousand women
are doctors of medicine in the United States while
about forty medical colleges are open to them, and
they therein enjoy equal advantages with men. In
addition to these facilities there medical colleges
devoted exclusively to the education of women where
the faculties are composed largely of women The
first institution Of this class was organized in Boston
about the year r849 The incorporates gave as ex
cuse for their actions that there were 10000 unmar-
RED surplus women in the State some of whom might
find in the practice of medicine remunerativc employ
ment. They had been taught consider marriage as
the great object of woman's life. This being made
impossible by disparity Of numbers the idea of sup
port was first in their minds They did not take into
consideration the natural adaptabiity of woman, the
diversity of tastes and the propensity ever present
with her to care for the sick and relieve suffering.
They did recognize in her the peer of the doctors
Of medicine they knew. But she has demonstrated
her worth in the last fifty years and established her
self surgeon, obstercian, gyn1cologst and gener.
al pIactitioner be shown by the reputation OF
such medical women a. Drs. Broonal White, Fuller
ton, Crossdale, Formal, Tsppip and Blackwell. The