Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-12-06

Ann Arbor admits wCmen IN! the
Woman's Hospital Medical college Of
Chicago, many state universities. Cal
ltornia. Michigan. Iowa and many
other excellent schools furnish thor,
ough medical training to the woman
Of today.
Ii was proud moment when the
Johns Hopkins threw open its doors
to women.
Many a blessing was poured upon
the heads of our pioneers OF 50 years
ago This country Is called the para
disc OF women, and We can we'll under
stand why when We look around us
and see the responsible and honorable
positions which women fill in every
state OF the union. They are phySl
clans and surgeons to hospitals and
dispensaries, obstctricians In public
hospitals and private charities. There
is hardly well,regulated insane aS!,
lum without its woman physician.
Has the woman doctor been sue
cess? Let the numbers answer this
question.
In 1850 there were eight women
doctors in this country. In 1900 our
number had swelled to 5000.
Switzerland admits women to the
study Of medicine on the same footing
with men since 1864. and many re-
sponsible positions are filled credit
ably by them. especially in hospitals
for obstetrics, gynecology and psychi-
airy.
Since 1868 women have studied in
France and especially in Paris. One
has feeling of equality with the 9th
e. sex in lecture halls and hospitals OF
France more than in any other coun-
try. the United States not excepted.
Great Britain has eight medical
schools, four for women only and four
where both sexes are admitted-Dub-
lin. Belfast. Cork and the University
of Durham in Newcastle-on-Tyne.
When Cork opened its school. fears
were expressed that mixed classes OF
men and women would be disadvan-
tageous and that the admission OF
women would interfere with the good
order and discipline OF the school.
Evidence on these points was sought
from teachers IN the Dublin and Bel
fast schools. where the experiment OF
mixed classes had already been made.
The following answers were received:
Having been asked to express our
opinion on the subject OF the hospital
education OF women medical students
we. the undersigned. having had some
years experience, wish to state that
we have found no difficulties arise in
teaching men and women together.
This was signed by 90 of the leading
Dublin physicians and teachers.
From Belfast the reply came from
Dr. Whitla, physician to the royal In
Urinary:
Il must say that the fears you refer
to were never for one moment real
lied. never saw the presence OF
ladies in my class give riae to the
least embarrassment or difficulty.
either with the patients, male STU
dents or nurses, and as for myself |
would willingly have half my class
made up OF such. At the college we
have had no difficulty whatever that
know of. have had them there In
nv lecture room and their presence
seemed, II anything, to produce very
good effect upon discipline"
The University OF Edinburgh is the
only one guilty of a retrograde move
ment. After having opened its doors
to women in 500 it closed them again
in 1874 in a manner which reflects
no credit upon that Institution.
The whole world knows what civ
ilizing agent the medical woman has
been to India. In 1863 the first wom-
an went out there to her medical mis-
sion and in 1896 there were 1900
women working in 1873 hospitals en-
tirely managed by women. The num-
Der of patients treated that year was
1.05i,3S7. BY this time that number
has almost doubled.
Italy admits women to its medical
schools since 1876 and no distinction
is made as to sex. The queen OF Italy
has woman doctor. Portugals
queen studied medicine in Paris and
is the only crowned head who bears
the title of NJ. d. In her country
women study with men on equal foot
ing. Emperor Alexander H.. by IN
ukase in 1872, allowed women to study
medicine in St. Petersburg, but an
other ukase in 1885 deprived them
asain OF this privilege. Since that
time numerous Russian students have
gone to Switzerland and Paris to
study and returned to their own coun-
try to practice. About six years ago
a special medical school for women
was opened in St Petersburg.
Scandinavia admits women to the
study Of medicine without reserve.
IN Holland women even hold pro
fessorships in universities. Catharina
Won TussenbrOck. well-knOwn Spe-