New-York tribune., 1903-03-06
CARE OF THE INSANE.
''Women Physicians Should Treat
Cuforfundtes of Their O1Cn Ser.

AItboush there is q law In New-York State com
peling the appointment Of at least one woman
physician the medical stan Of every State IN
srfruticn for the Of the insane when women
are among the patients. its orkrg does not sat
isfy all those who advocate the care of insane
women by persons Of their own sex
The letter Of the law has been complied with, "
said the Rev Anna Garland Spencer at q meeting
Of the legislative League at the Tuxedo yesterday
sfternoor. but in case has anything further
been done Masculine alienists all recognize the
necessity Of having attendants and nurses
for female patients, bit great many OF them do
not want to admit women to any position Of au-
thor1ty In consequence Of this feeling and Of her
isolated position, the one woman physician IN the
State asylum labors under many disadvantages and
cannot do herself justice Her position is as dis
agreeable that Of pioneer women students St a
co-educationaI institution
To remedy this evil. Mrs. Spencer advocated not
the appointment of fewer, but of more, women
physicians and not the changing Of the law. but a
more liberal Interpretation Of It There were per
sons In care Of the insane asyluns Of the stAtA
she saId who would be found auenable 70 argu-
-neuts along this line, II those interested in the
matter would only bring them TO bear Mrs. spen-
Ger also spoke very strongly regarding the ap-
potntment Of capable women
Y would be sory,'' she said. Ito see any more
laws compelling the appointment Of women to any
positions whatsoever, unless provision were made
al the same time for competitive Civil Service ex-
auninations for ascertaining the fitness Of cAndi-
dates for the positions. Let US not ask for the
appointmenr Of a woman. bur for the appointment
O q III woman
Regarding the advantages that would accrue
from the care of insane women by women, both as
nurses and attendants and physicians. Mrs
Spencer had doubts
There is growing feeling he said, that every
helpless woman should have about her competent
person Of her own sex I think it would also be
found easier to find, first class women at moder-
ate compensation for these positions than TO ind
first class men. And I believe women would be
less inclined than men make the care Of the
incidental the scientific study OF INSANITY
Through ages Of training women nave come 70
he good al the Of doing things. while they are
perhaps not good at the science OF understanding
things. Furthermore. If women physicians were
sane asyius they would constitute training schools
for new and most important branch OF Work
among The insane In Europe the placing out OF
insane patients IN groups OF Chree or 1ouI Is pc
ginning 70 take the place OF our present practice
OF hercng them in large institutions. and when This
is done, they are always placed IN the care or
work produce z wife nurse. whose
qualifications are passed upon by the medical board
0f the institution
Considerable discussion followed the talk. and
a in the audience told OF a woman physician
II the asylum at Poughkeep1e who had oeen ke2t
-a7eIy saw her. The medical board had no fault to
find with her. but thought that she was most con-
-e7ieutly disposed OF in this way.
Mrs lille Devereux Blake presided and before
the lecturer was introduced, letter was read, N
response from the secretary. from j. r
Mr. Aids sstd he agreed with the league IN It's
opposition the law giving women the power 70
mar fn this case they might consider the bill as
already dead Mrs. Blake also reported SATISFACTORY
progress In the effort 70 secure TO American women
~tr1zenship- She told the necessary legislation
would be passed next session. ana that Il would
have been secured this year had the session been