The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-24
STORIES OF WOMEN DOCTORS.
Experiences i'm Following Their Pro-
fession, Especially at Night.
Philadelphia Record.

Philadelphia Record.
While women physicians are now becom-
ing too numerous to be regarded any more
as novel, ii is doubtful if many people
realize the amount of real courage which
a woman doctor in general practice is fire.
ouently called upon TO display. COMPETE
ton in a city is always keen, and the wom-
an physician like her male rival, is gen.
orally on the alert for patients-cOnsequent
", call is refused because it should
happen TO come at d late hour of the night
or from a part of the city that is not the
pleasantest TO visit. The meeting of the
Alumnae Association of the WOmens Med
ical College held recently brought numbers
of women physicians together, and, while
talking shop is generally taboOed among
themselves, to a layman several were will
ing TO tell some stories connected with
their work.
Il can truthfully say that l never was
frightened but once in my life, said
Quiet-lookng, dark-haired lady, whose
manner denoted primness and determine
ton. ut was after midnight on a winters
night when man came for me to go down
10 Alaska street, in the slums, TO see
woman he said was dying. He was
rouSh-looklng man, and K told him to go
on down and would follow. L went to my
room and gathered together the things /
felt needful. intending TO go over TO Broad
street station and order a cab, as 1 did
not wish 10 be dependent en- the street cars
In that downtown neighPOrhOOd at night.
But the man was waiting outside my house,
anu insisted upon eScOTung me, and l could
not get rid OF him. Before L reached Broad
street station L made up my mind il would
not do TO run the risk OF offending the man
by taking cab by myself. and that might
be safer walking the streets with him
than shut up in the confines of a cab. So
We walked all the way down together
Il found my patient in a very dangerous
condition, and the squalid room in which
she lay was occupied by no less than ten
other people. | promptly ordered every
one out before proceeding with my exam
nation. All went save one gigantic negro,
who said he would not go out in the cold
! insisted. however, that could do nothing
for the patient " lille he was in the room
and finally the other tenants succeeded in
getting him out
1T was an hour or more before 1 was
ready 10 so home and l intended TO walk
VI 10 Eighth street and take a car. The
man who had accompanied me down Of
fered 10 go home with me, but l re-
fused and started alone. Before | had
gone a block l saw l was being Followed
and by crossing over the street / managed
10 turn my head. and saw 4 was the ne
gro 1 had sent out OF the room. | walked
steadily on. but by heart beat faster than
ever before or since in my life [ missed
the car / wanted 10 take. and. knowing
IL would be a long time at that hour OF
the night before another would come
walked on. stiu hearing those footsteps
just behind me. When we reached the
shadow or the Pennsylvania Hospital wall
felt sure OF an attack My knees fairly
Knocked together as i walked, and 1 PRAYED
Tor a policeman 10 appear. but none was
IN sight.
Il still kept on. however. until l got 70
Chestnut street, and from there. block
By block. 10 Fifteenth and Arch streets
sun heard footsteps, and at times / al
most Imagined felt the mans breath upon
me.
made up my mind that the negro
woulu attack ne as | reached my own
door Out, fortunately, my key turned east
~ and stepped in. Then from a window
looked out only 10 see that my pursurer
had evidently turned some time before /
mao entered my door and was now retrac-
ing MS steps. The next morning when |
went Dack 10 see my patient / was received
IKE princess. IL seems that they had
doubted nay ability 10 go home alone and
that rough negro, whose aspecf had str,,rtr