New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-06-25
CARS WOMAN DOCTORS
RUSSIA TRUSTED THEM AT THE FRONT
IN THE WAR WITH TURKEY
THAT WAS TWENTY THREE YEARS AGo-lN OUR
WAR WITH SPAIN WOMEN LANCET WELD


Frs RANKED ONLY As ECRSES-
During the spanish-American war Just ended
woman physicians who desired TO go 10 the front
to relieve suffering and to acquire surgical expert
ence had 10 enlist as nurses. Perhaps. II the au-
thorities had been more familiar with the work
done by in the Russo-Turkish war. that
began in 1876. they would have taken different
course. Russia nearly q quarter OF a century ago,
gave 10 her graduated women full rank as ply
sicians at the front and secured from them ser
vices that were appreciated at the time and are
still remembered.
The lack OF physicians In Russia had led large
number Of young women 10 seek medical instrue-
ton at Zurich and elsewhere even before the hrst
Government medical college was opened for Rus
sian women at St. Petersburg, in 1874 The trend
OF thought toward liberalism in the sixties had had
its effect on women. It is supposed that the mixing
OF woman students OF good families with revolution
lists who also made headquarters ofZurich, brought
home to the Russian Government the desirabilty
OF q medical school for women at the capital
The idea was bitterly opposed by the Conservatives
who saw ruin 10 the family 10 the public morals
and TO government Itself In the entrance OF women
into the medical profession. Conservative news
papers were full Of carcatures of women with
short HAIR reading medical books. But the women
who had brought back degrees from Zurich had
made themselves popular. and the Government hau
many supporters In It's new move
The school was an annex TO the regular military
medical college and the girls had the same teach-
ers as the male students, had TO STUDY the same
time five years. and had TO pass the same exami-
nations but after graduation they were TO be caieu
only Learned midwives" However, this injustice
did not keep the girls away They came from an
over Russia TO Ct. Petersburg! often without the
permission OF parents thereby renouncing all nnan-
cial support from the latter. Many had 10 live In
poverty earning but little by dint Of lessons copy
ing and TRANSACTIONS The attitude OF the male
students toward their colleagues Of the other sex
Books instruments and notes were readily fur-
uished not only 10 personal friends. but TO any one
that happened 10 be in need OF them.
One OF these first women physicians relates that
once a classmate OF hers. speaking or her need OF
a book on anatomy. was overheard oS maze STU
dent utterly unknown TO her lie turned arouho
and said: I'm very sorry not 10 have one myself
I'm, ~ Won wait moment will surely get one ior
YOU" He entered the adjoining ecture-room'
where students were gathered In the expectation
OF lecture went up TO the centre OF II ana callea
out: Comrades. there Is a colleague woman
that is in want Of book on anatomy. VINO OF you
can lend IL 10 her for the next termr' Cries OF
"Ir' were heard from all sides, and In another
moment the big broad-shouldered student APP
peared with several volumes saying: Take which
ever one you like best; take even several, II you
know OF others OF your classmates that may be In
need OF them"
AT the time when the Arst girl students were to
mass their Anal examinations war between Russia
and Turkey broke out Russia had hardly sufficient
physicians: the fourth and NTH year students OF
the Military Medical School were ordered TO the
battlefield The girls seized this opportunity, eager
to prove their capability 10 perform the functions
Of n physician During the the Russian
women physicians made themselves generally
known. and turned public opinion in their IA
vor Two OF them lost their lives at the front |
The recently edited letters Of the late Barbara y
Nekrasowa to her sister show some of the expert |
ences OF these women
"Frashet Rumania. August 10. lS7.-The air IS |
bad regardless Of the fact that one Of the students
is all the time occupied by disinfectnG, and fifty
soldiers are digging and burning the filth There
is not enough room in the camp. Or. y. and his .
wife have 10 sleep in one tramcar. and o. another
girl studenD and myself in another. But then
we can just stay overnight-in the morning the
walls end doorknobs get burning hot. The first
few days we. as students, had to work under the
supervision Of doctors. which more like nurses
work I said would not work under these condi-
lions Ohe fifth year men students were registered
as physicians) and given independent
work
August u This is a queer kind OF life We are
here six doctors seven students six nurses, and
none Of US know for sure what day II is. Only one
transport OF patients arrived since am here and
stin there is plenty Of work II the patients could
AZ least all be put into beds II would not be so
lard 20 examine and bandage them. But they are
IN the ground, which makes one bend all the time
,r crawl on the knees from one 10 the other. The
worst OF It is that one comes out from there all
covered with vernin. Then ! never knew that II
vas possible not only 10 live but 10 work In such
terrific heat But the chief thing is 10 get
m official Independent position.
August 49, We not only hear the noise OF tho
3ombs but can also the fire. There is enough
medical help here now. but also plenty OF patients
There are two thousand IN the camp and twenty
I've hundred are expected by Tomorrow.
There is no room, no provisions for them.
August D. got up early to-day and made the
ound OF my eye patients: then l saw about three
hundred medical ones. At the end tired
Int ! hardly could move. II looks dismal In our
amp Dr. y. is sick. and went to Bucharest. The
ther doctors and students are all ailng. DR.. a.
md myself being the only exceptions
September s. 1t is o'clock in the morning. and
ge have Just returned from work To-day.
.fter having seen my eye patients / registered as
urreon Thus for the first time / going 10 get
Independent surgical work II l have made
|. mistake by going with the Red Cross and not
With one OF our professors. Though have here
lutte independent work, am not keeping officially
he position while girls. with Professor ". are
mcialIy registered physicians. 1 received let
er from 3. (classTnate OF mlne) In which she
writes that Professor Bergman is treating the
women very well indeed. She is operating all the
ime
September Il The surroundings here are bad
nough 10 Kill any desire for letter-writing To- I
lay the sun put in It's appearance after three days
Z pouring rain. We walking In mud up 10 the !
.nees The patients lying In mud. !
vas on duty last night during which eleven deaths
.ccurred Every now and then l would go from :
ne camp 10 another Entering one, ! would ask
he nurse Well how things with you An
ieht only one Is dead and the other Is
yfngr very pleasant 70 hear, isn't Il? Then sud
EMILY somebody runs from camp with the cry
Hernorrhage! Hemorrhagev ! hurry. and find on !
ne straw bleeding soldier. / make haste TO put O
n A bandage. The wound Is all dirty the patient
, covered with blood, which also saturates the
lothes / am washing the wound without being
HE 10 take precautions against further wetting OF
ne clothes as my whole attention Is given 10 the v
a. rch FOR and legation OF the artery pre- n
emit The patient from fanting. The bandage at I
al nut on I can do more. Then leave the s
etient in his wet cloths on the dirty pile OF straw
nave never dreamed OF the horrors ! meet here.
~ heart 10 breaking every time go 20 classify u
ne patients. .- ,,-...,- y