University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1908-11-17
WOMEN AS
SURGEONS

LOWLY but surely woman is at
tanning to the intellectual level o
man, and to an equality of oppor
tunity for exercising her gifts in thos'
professions from which she has SO Ions
and so persistently been withheld by
man. Women in England have for some
little time been allowed to act as lady
doctors of medicine, and now, by the
decision come to at the quarterly meet
ing of the council of the Royal Collegt
of Surgeons held last week, they will
henceforth be allowed to qualify and
practice as surgeons. The same council
decided also to allow women to come
up for the examinations of the conjOint
examining board in England, and to
that for the diploma in public health
as well as those for the license in den
tai surgery Steps were taken at once
to put in practice these innovations by
making the necessary alterations in the
bylaws of the Royal College of Sur
geOns.
This wise and liberal reform on the
part of the chief surgical examining and
licensing authority in Great Britain We
doubt not will eventually be initiated
by the medical and surgical authorities
of other countries. For it is nothing
short of barbarOus to prevent women
from doing what men may do, provided
they have the wish and power to do it..
Sex should be no bar to liberty in a
free country, and if a woman have the
knowledge, skill and power to exercise
any hitherto restricted professions she
should be allowed to exercise that pro-
fessiOn and earn the emoluments at
taching thereto. 1t is absurd, illogical
and unjust to say woman may not
practice certain profession because she
cannot, when she has proved that she can.
1t is not as if women asked that the ex-
aminations should be made easier for
them than for men, or that the general
standard should be lowered to enable
them to qualify. On the contrary, they
simply ask that they may be allowed
to compete with men at the same ex-
aminatiOns, undergo the same tests of
fitness, and, if successful at these, to be
allowed to earn their living in the same
way as men. To attempt to exclude
capable women from professions, lucra-
tive or distinguished, is merely narrow
minded trade uniOnism-whether legal.
medical or what not; and, like all trade
it has its source in selfishness,
end wields its power with tyranny.
Apart, therefore, from the mere matter
Of sex, it is cause for rejoicing that
another of these ancient, selfish, class
barriers has been broken, and a way
opened to merit by whomsover pos
,essed
Though hitherto monopolized by man.
he art of surgery has nothing in it that
makes it impossible for or inappropriate
o woman. Its practice demands
strength of mind and skill of hand; but
woman possesses both of these attri-
outes, while in addition she has a GER
ain gift of intuition, of insight, that
nay prove OCCASIONALLY of considerable
,se in this healing art. Imagination
ven finds a place in constructive sur
.ery, and in this branch of the profes- |
ion, in attaching artificial limbs, or
.ans, membranes, ETC., and in all the
elicate operations on the brain, heart,
r abdominal organs, We see no reason
Why woman's lightness of touch should
ot be sufficient counterpoise for mans
trength.
In the matter of dental surgery also,
Though the work is hard and very
atiguing, delicacy as well as strength is
equired. Apart from simple extrac-
ion. all the usual dentistry could be
one as well by a woman as a man.
nd in certain details probably better.
borrower, the fact of there being women
entists would open the way to the en-
lOyment of female assistants, whose
sill and artistic perception might prove
valuable in the making up of artificial
,eth and doing the mechanical work
} much in vogue today for preserving
Elective or replacing missing teeth.
omen as a rule are far more frequent
sitors to the dentist than men. and it I.
quite possible that many would pre-
r to be attended to in these trying
mes by members of their own sex.
t any rate. they have right to choose.
I'd if they prefer to be attended to
: women dentists they will soon have /,
le opportunity of doing so.
There is another class of patients that =.
i'll probably welcome the advent of
e lady surgeon. and that is the chill
en-. Although practically most opera v
Dns are performed under anaesthetics, h
ID the patient knows nothing of the e
tual details, vet all the prclim;par;.s