Evening star., 1925-04-02
LONDON HOSPITAL
AID SOUGHT HERE
Or. May Thorne, Pioneer Eng
Iish Woman Physician,
Tells of Present Needs.

Hands across the sea in the cause
of humanity was stressed yesterday
afternoon in a lecture at the Red
Cross auditorium by DR.. May Thorne,
pioneer woman physician of England
and governor of Royal Free Hospital,
London.
Dr. Thorne was a member or the
Royal Army Medical Corps for two
wears, and later at the head Of Queen
Alexandria's Imperial Nursing SerV-
Ice in London. Many American nurses
were under her care.
Work of DIR. Blackwell.
America was the first among the
nations of the world with the vision
and courage to grant to woman a
medical education" declared Dr.
Thorne, land as long ago as 1S49
Elizabeth Blackwell graduated as
doctor from Geneva College, New
York" DIR. Thorne explained now Dr:
blackwell. eight years later, spurred
on by the desire of so many women
for physicians of their own sex,
founded the New York 1nfirmary for
Women. At that time no woman
could obtain a medical education in
England, she added.
Some 20 years later England
opened the medical field to women,
said Dr. Thorne, by admitting wom-
an students to the Royal Free HOS
pital in London, one of the IL great
teaching hospitals connected with the
University of London.
The hospital is unique, DIR. Thorne
stated with emotion, in that poverty
and sickness alone is the passport for
admission.
Work During War.
Reviewing the war record of the
free hospital, DR.. Thorne told of the
maternity department inaugurated
during the World War. She said the
need for such a ward had long been
felt and when air raids spread terror
among the poorer population of Lon
don, and when every available inch
of space in the hospital was occu-
pied by wounded soldiers, a tempo
rary maternity department was
opened near by.
I'm 1921 the Royal Free was the
only hospital to receive authorization
from the University of London to or
ganize a Unit of Obstetrics and Gym
Geology In this unit work in every
department connected with child
birth-ante- natal, maternity infant
welfare and diseases of women-is
co-ordinated.
"One of the brightest and most in
teresting spots in the unit is the
Washington maternity ward, contain
ing II beds and IL babies cots. The
ward was named for the Father of
His Country.
Mrs. John W. Davis, wife of the
then American Ambassador to the
Court of st. James, presided at the
testimonial exercises when the ward
was dedicated" DR.. Thorne related.
1t is the plan to name the beds in
the ward after men and women prom
inent in the war and medical history
of the United States. The first bed
was dedicated to the memory of DR..
Elizabeth Blackwell, this bed having
been completely subscribed to, and
the second bears the name of Martha
Washington, although only s1,100 has
been subscribed so far TO the quota
of $4,000 for each bed.
In addition to naming the beds
after the heroes of various American
wars, namely, the Revolutionary
Civil and World Wars. a bed will be
especially dedicated to the memory
of the American warriors who gave
their lives for the country.
DR. Thorne is in the United States
for the purpose of interesting Ameri-
cans in supporting these beds.
The committee for the endowment
of the beds was announced. as
IOllOWS. JOnn w. DAVIS, chairman,
Mrs. Curtis Brown, president of the
American Women's Club, London;
Mrs. Carrie Chapman Gait, president
of the League of Women Voters; Dr.
William Darrach, dean of the Col
lege of Physicians and Surgeons, Co
lumbia University; Sir Esme Howard,
Ambassador from Great Britain; Mrs.
Edgerton Parsons, president of the
International Federation of Uni
verSity Women; DR.. May Thorne,
DR. Martha Tracy, dean of the
Women's Medical College of Pennsyl-
vania, and Mrs. Thomas Winter,
chairman of the international rela-
tions committee of the General
Federation of Women's Clubs.
Subscriptions to the ward, 1T was
announced, may be sent to DR..
Thorne, 124 East Sixty-first street.
New York City, or to Mrs. Bernard S.
Oppenheimer, secretary and treasurer
Of the committee.