The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-10-17

| may De Uatter VI speculation Put
a confidence of doing the right thin, nd
a beautiful optimistic hope is a1,rors
present in the mind of the surgeon Eor
he knows that surgery is the greata.t of
human needs 1t is as old as hum.ni4,,
The daily duties Of tho surgeons call
for varied and peculiar qualifications ~
temperament 1t presupposes the exis-
tenoe of humanitarianism in the heart
often entaillng great personal Sacrifice
His entire life and Thought must he
given up to the one pursuit.. Soience il
a most exaoting mistress when her wor-
shippers chooss surgery as their pursuit.
Women are especially suited for tbe
surgical professien," said DR.. Bertha
Van Hoosen, "because they possess sym
pathy for humanity to more intense de-
gree than men. Their one great
thought is to savela human life. In that
desire peouniary gain and reputation is
forgotten. Then the absorbing love with
which women en- tsr into an accepted pro-
fession is like woman's love the world
over. 1t becomes her whole existence. So
ELS UuISuGS SUloHCo III ooiSuSo hdk6, ana
surgery especially for humanity's sake. "
DIR. MARIE J. MERGLER.
When DR.. Mary Thompson died DR..
Marie ]. Mergler stepped into her shoes
| by unanimous consent as the most
worthy successor. She is a Bavarian by
birth and began the study of medicine in
| 1875, after finding that the profession of
teaching which she had begun WAS too
narrow field and offered no incentive
to the further prosecution of studies.
She matriculated at the Woman's Medi-
cal College Of Chicago in 1876. then at
tracing great attention on account of her
scholarship. She assisted the elebrate
Byford at his surgical operations for
several years. She began to Practice in
1881, limiting herself almost from the
beginning to obstetrics and gynaecology.
In the latter branch her skill as sur
| geon has placed her almost at the head
| Of her profession in the northwest. At
the death Of Byford she succeeded him as
professor OF 9ynaecology. In 1882 she was
one of the first two women elected on
the attending staff of the Cook County
Hospital. In 1886 she was appointed one
Of the attending surgeons at the
Woman's Hospital of Chicago. and in
1890 gynaecologist to Wesley Hospital.
Then followed her election to the head
surgeonship at the Mary Thompson Me
| mortal Hospital. In her work she Is as
sisted by a staff Of women. all of whom
are fine practitioners themselves. They
are DR.. Price, DR.. Frances L. Patrick,
DIR. Nellie W. Cargill, DR.. Bertha Bush
and DR.. May Rice.
DR.. MergIer has distinguished herself
for her ability in abdominal surgery.
Her work Ia done oleanly and quickly.
She has excellent Judgment and superior
diagnostic powers. Her SUCCESS in the
classroom has eQualed that in the con-
sulting room. Her lectures are scien-
tito and are rendered more valuable by
her rare ability to classify her knowledge
and errolear cut mode OF expression. In
the midst of her busy life she has con-
tributed papers to some of tho state med
ical societies and leading medical jour-
mails, and Ia the author of "Guide to the
Study of Gynaeoology.
DR.. Lucy Waite Robson Is considered
by many the most critical woman sur
geon in the city. She operates at the
Harvey and Post Graduate hospitals and
makes specially of gynaecology. Close
upon her heels comes DR.. Rachel Hickey
Carr, a woman of remarkable force of
character, and pronounced by several the
best trained surgeon in the city. This
honor, however, she closely contests with
DR.. Waite Robinson, who has had the
great advantage of the advice and train
ing of her husband, DR.. Byron Robin
son, himself surgeon Of more than
local reputation. DR.. Carr, though,
practices general surgery. This makes her
field Infinitely broader, and her name
better known. Her life is filled with a
varied experience. After graduation
from the May Wright Sewall school she
became an active nurse at the Cook
County Hospital for two years. Then,
after taking a degree at the Woman's
Medical College, she passed severe com-
petitive examination for admission to
the Cook County Hospital as an inferno.
This was noteworthy victory, oonsid-
erinR the fact that majority OF the can
didaten were well informed. even bril-
liant young doctors of the other sex. She
served az interen for year and a half,
then established a practice, 10 the midst
of which she was sent by the Woman's
Relief Corps to administer to the Johns
town sufferers. Since her return her
work as general surgeon has led her
into private practice rather than in
stitutional work.
WOMEN LEAN TO SPECIALTIEs.
Disqualification is the tendency of the
age" said DR.. Georgia Luckett Rugeles.
"There are very few who now engage 10
practice in general surgery-that is,
among women. We recognize the fact
that power ooncentra ted in one PARTON
lar channel enhances the value and
quality uf the result. Consequently each
woman pursues her Particular branc b to
the total exclusion of others If possible,
Yes, a majority of women surgeons ara