DR. ELIZABETH BLACKWELL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 475, 6 April 1909, Page 3

DR. ELIZABETH BLACKWELL.

An interesting anniversary occurred at the beginning of this year—tho 88th birthday of Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell, the first lady to take a medical degree. She was likewise the first lady to be placed upon the English Medical Register, in her homo at Hastings, Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell 1 en joys marvellously good health, although v shc 110 longer takes a .very prominent part in public affairs. In 1832 .her family went to America, where- sho became a school teacher. At' that time she appears to have had no leaning towards the study of medicine, in fact, as she herself confessed, she had a horror of illness or physical defects. A friend of hers suggested sho should study niedicine, but tho suggestion was not carried into effect until long after. Tho Universities of Philadelphia and New York refused 'to allow her admission as a student to the medical schools, and it was at Geneva she finally studied, a resolution having been specially passed by that institution welcoming her to tho classes. On January 25, 1849, sho graduated, tho occasion being commemorated by "Punch" in somo amusing verses. Afterwards Miss Blnckwell studied in Paris, and finally camo to London to study at St. Bartholomew's Hospital. She settled in London, and becamo acquainted with Miss Florence Nightingale, to whom she acknowledged a debt, as it was from her sho learned that "sanitation is tho supremo goal of medicine, its foundation and its crown."