The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-12
WOMEN AS PHYSICIANS
ABOUT TWENTY-FIVE FOLLOW THE
PROFESSION IN THIS CITY.
As Usual Thing They Are Success
fuI--sOmcthing About Their
Average Incomes.


cate sex has been forging steadily ahead
in the healing profession without any os-
tentation, and for this reason the state
ment made at the outset may be looked
upon with incredulity by many who read it.
IL the doubling Thomases will, however,
make little investigation on their own
account they will discover that there
are at this time in Indianapolis something
like twenty-five women who are recognized
as reputable physicians and who have ex-
cellent practices.
The struggle for recognition made by
these persevering women has been severe
beyond the ability of outsiders to appre-
ciate. Until within very recent years the
men In the profession of medicine guarded
the doors jealousy and steadfastly denied
admission TO the women in the face of the
most earnest pleas and of the clearest
possible showing of competence. What in
fiuence first began TO undermine the wall
of ancient prejudice around the practice
of medicine Is not known to certainty.
A well-known woman physician on North
Pennsylvania stree. was asked concern
ing this recently and said she believes the
remarkable proficiency displayed by many
nurses in sanatoriums has had as much as
anything else to do with breaking up the
prejudice against women entering the medi-
cal profession. "a large per cent. or our
best women physicians" said she. have
entered the profession from sanatoriums.
The work they have TO do in those institu-
tons is of such an all-embracing character
that they cannot help, II at all htted men
tally. becoming very proficient in poth
medicine and surgery. l myselI spent
number of years in a prominent lnuland
sanatorium, and regard the training ana
education L received at that place az WORM
quite as much, If not more, TO me than the
course I took in medical college. ANY one
who knows anything at all about sana-
torium knows that it is the usuai pIacuce
for the chief surgeon to leave paueht en-
tirely IN the care of one or more nurses
after he has shown signs of convalescence
from an operation. This care includes
certain amount of surgical treatment ana
handling as we'll as the administering OF
medicines to cid in the healing process
You can thus see readily how a nurse rs
almost bound to acquire production ZOE
medicine and surgery.
THE REQUISITES.
The physician in question was asked
whether in her opinion young woman is
as competent as to temperament and con-
stitution as is a young man to enter upon
the study of medicine and surgery. "As
to temperament, 1 unhesitatingly answer
that she Is" replied the doctor. but not
as 10 constitution Woman is naturally
weaker than man as a rule, and for this
reason there must always be certain parts
of the broad field of medicine and surgery
from which she is barred. In those parts
for which she is adapted L feel no hesl-
fancy in saying that she Is, IL anything
better adapted than man..
The most difficult obstacle which is en-
countered by the young woman entering
this arduous, but fascinating profession Is
the lack of self-confdence, ana rignt here
f<,l .<an of a greatest
of the sanatorium training. Commence IN
ones self must be quickly acquired In
busy sanatorium. else the novice must leave
before the period of her novitiate has
scarcely begun. A young woman, there
fore who would become physician In TACT
as well as in name ought by all means
to serve an apprenticeship-if the use OF the
term may be allowed-in sanatorium
which is conducted for the treatment of a
broad variety of ailments requiring the
services of both the physician and the
surgeon.
The prejudice against co-education which
has persisted so strongly in many of the
institutions of classical learning has found
ready and consistent champions in medical
colleges and universities. The woman ply
stefan who has previously been quoted
was asked for her opinion as to the effect
OF having young women students in such
institutions. MY experience has been
that young women are decided advantage
to any medical college," she replied. 81
know my professors told me repeatedly
before / left college that my presence
in the classes, together with other young
women, had undoubtedly been beneficial
both to the young men students and to the
teachers as well. 1t is sad. but per-
fectly true statement, that in medical coll
leges where none but young men are in at
tendance, the professors are Outlines not
as chaste and elegant in the language they
employ in the classroom and dissecting
room as they should be- Since the advent
Of young women into these institutions the
professors have abandoned this style of inn
parting knowledge. Personally. L think
that time spent in discussing the subject
before the class is put in much more profit
ably than II 1t We're used In perpetrating
some alleged pleasantly, even though the
latter may be pointed and have a certain
bearing on the subject under discussion
am clear in mind on the proposition
that an earnest, hardworking, ambitjous
young woman In a medical college can do
much towards elevating not only the
morals OF the institution, but also in i'm
proving the Quality of work done in il bv
both students and instructors"
AVERAGE INCOMES.
An effort was made to find out the aver
age income of the women physicians in
| Indianapolis. but this was found to he
about as difficult to discover how much
| man in the same profession is earning
The same reason for difidence does not
| exist in each case. Men physicians. II IS
"SAA n'O"iAs w NOT dS IL rule mold real
| property in their own names, for the reason
that they are liable to find themselves de-
| prived OF it through process of law i'm q
| just or unjust suit for damages on account
| OF malpractice. Women physicians are
however, deprived OF this defense against
| the displeasure of those they NAV treat
professionally. If they have husbands n
would be of no advantage to them to nlacs
| their property in the name of their lege
| lord. The reason for the difficulty in ascer-
| tanning the income of a woman in the med
| ical profession must then be taken as the
native modesty of the sex. A woman is a
woman still, even though she has acquired
| the right to hang out a sign bearing the
| talismanic designation of M. d. There
are certain indications, however, by which
| observing ones can arrive with tolerahle
| accuracy at the conclusion that the women
physicians of indianapolis are as a rule
| enjoying a fair share of financial pros-
perity. Those I'm position 10 speak with
fair show OF authority declare that the
| smallest income of woman engaged In the
| regular practice of medicine in this CITY Is
| about $500. Quite number. are enjoying
yearly receipts ranging from S 900 to $40 600
There are innumerable facts of interes,
about women physicians, but only few of
these can be set out in the narrow limits
of newspaper story. One interesting fact
| is that there are several skilled spectalists
| in this city who take high rank along with
| their brethren in the profession The
woman whose words have thrown yaIua ble
| light on several points in this article Is
! herself an electrician of great attachments
| She has in her operating rooms a complete
| set of therapeutical electrical appliances
/ that are conceded TO be among the finest ir
. liz s.,.l. -.