The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-06-12
| Elizabeth Blackwell
First to Take NJ. D. Degree

May 81. passed to her reward DR..
| Elizabeth Blackwell, the first woman
to take the degree OF NJ. D. in the
| United States Her medical degree was
| conferred at Geneva University. now
Hobart College, New York, in Janu-
airy of 1s49, just a little more than
sixty-ono years ago.
/ Elizabeth Blackwell was born near
| Bristol England. in February OF 1921
Her parents came to New York in
| 1892 and removed to Cincinnati, o.,
IN 1888. Soon afterward the death of
Mr. Blackwell left his widow with nine
children to provide their own support.
Elizabeth, the third daughter, taught
school in henderson, Ky, and had
private class in music and languages.
But the strong bent OF her nature in
clined her to the study of medicine.
Though discouraged by the advice of
friends. she accepted a school in
Asheville. N c., in 1915. and began
herself taking private lessons from a
Rev. John Dickinson. who. previous
to his entrance into the ministry, had
been a physician. In journeying from
Cincinnati to Asheville before the days
of railroads, Miss Blackwell had to
make a trip of eleven days by private
Il l conveyance, CROSS Three TdISeS OIL
mountains and ford several rivers
to reach her destination. After she
had been in Asheville for some time.
Dr. Samuel II. Dickson, professor of
the Medical College of Charleston, S.
c., procured for her the post CT teacher
of music in the establishment OF Madame
Du Pre-, who conducted a fashionable
school for young women in Charleston.
The medical studies Miss Blackwell
carried on in spare hours were d.
rected by DIR. Dickson.
Entrance Into Medical College.
Having accumulated a small store
of savings. in 1s47 she left Charles
ton to study anatomy under DR.. Allen
in philadelphia. She was refused ad-
mission to the four medical colleges
of the Quaker City On her part she
declined an offer of admission to the
surgical classes of DR.. Pankhurst.
coupled with he condition that she
should attend them disguised as man.
Persistent efforts on Miss Blackwells
part were finally crowned with sue
cess. An application made by her to
Geneva University. now known as Ho
hart College. New York, was referred
by the faculty of the college to
class OF $50 young men. with the
proviso that If a single objection was
raised, the application would be de-
MED.
Contrary 20 all expectation the class
in a meeting held October 20, 1871,
adopted the following resolution: THAT
to every branch OF scientific education
the door should be open equally to
all; that the application of Elizabeth
Blackwell to become member OF cur
class meets our entire Appreciation:
and in extending our unanimous in
vitation we pledge ourselves that no
conduct OF ours shall cause her to
regret her attendance at this institu-
ton."
Led Her Class.
Miss BIackwell's entrance into the
class transformed boisterous and
rictuous band of students into quiet,
orderly, handwriting set. She had no
trouble in winning the esteem OF pro-
lessons and fellow-students, but was
ostracized by Geneva Society. She
graduated al the head CT her class. her
diploma being handed her with the
highest encomiums. When an affiliated
college for women was recently added
to Hobart College, the first dormitory
Tor girls was christened Elizabeth
Blackwell House. and fine portrait
of Dr. Blackwell was hung within its
walls
During her postgraduate days abroad
she made many friends among distin.
guished members of her profession in
London and Paris. and had much
pleasant intercourse with such women
as Lady Byron and Florence Night
lngale. The taking up of practice in
the city of New York, during the year
1851 was a different and a difficult
thing. and was attended with strong
opposition. The realization that Miss
Blackwell was the pioneer NJ. D. in
country where there are now 1899
women physicians and surgeons. rem
ders such opposition difficult to I'M
derstand and estimate.
First women's Hospital.
The New York Infrmary for Wo-
men and Children, the first hospital
conducted wholly by women. was
founded in 1857, because Elizabeth
Blackwell was smut out from the hos
pitfalls. 1t was under her supervision,
that of her sister, DR.. Emily Black
well, and that of DR.. Marie Zakrzew
. ska. For many years the intirmary
had to struggle with the disadyan-,
tages of poverty. but 1t is now a large
and iourishing institution, and still
a homeopathic hospital, where poor
t women can be treated by physicians of
+ their own sex.
: DR.. Blackwell was a pioneer in the
1 social work now carried on by pro-
! gressye hospitals, her dispensary
practice including the visiting of poor
patients at their homes, and the es-
tablishing of a sanitary visitor to give
simple, practical instruction to poor
: mothers. When the doctor revisited
. England in 1858, Charles Kingsley was
among those who gave. her special en-
couragenlent. She occupied for years
the chair of hygiene In the Womans
Medical College of the New York In
Urinary founded in 1865. and later
: merged with the Medical School OF
S Cornell University.
Returned to England.
In the year 1869 Or. Blackwell left
J America TO make her permanent home
J in England, where the practice OF
medicine, the giving OF lectures and
tho writing of books afforded her
abundant interest and occupation. An
adopted daughter, taken TO her home
and heart during the early and lonely
days OF her New York professional
career repaid a debt of gratitude and
Frightened her foster-mother's de-
clning years, with the greatest Fidelity
ana affection THE PASSERBS.
The Activities or Women.
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