WOMEN'S SPHERE IN MEDICINE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 980, 22 November 1910, Page 9

WOMEN'S SPHERE IN MEDICINE.

"BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL'S" - : : ... :.: ; VIEW. ■ ~ At the opening of the winter sessions of the 'London' (Royal. Free ..Hcspityl) School of Medicine for Women, Mr. E. AV. E-oughton, M.D., F.R.C.S.,- surgeon- to • the' hospital and lecturer' on- surgery to the school, delivered an interesting- address,. taking ns his subject women's ■sphere in medicine.' In a leading article dealing with . the address, and from which extracts have been, taken, tho "British Medical. Journal" remarks that Mr. Roughton did not include in his purview tho admirable work done by women as nurses, and, not -unnaturally perhaps, allowed himself to be led off into a consideration of what, in. essence and- in etiology, art. the differences between ineii and women. With his illuminating and clear-sighted treatment of this question, he coupled some brief allusions to tho bearing of these differences on the suitability of women for the profession of medicine: Summed up, bis net conclusion would seem to bo that, wliilo the avera-'e inan is at present more euited for medical work than the average woman,' tile time will come when- this will no longer he the case, except perhaps in the more harassing forms of private practice. Tho "Journal" then goes on to say:—"ln speaking of what women have already done, ho did not mention, as might havo been expected, the invaluable eervices many of them havo rendered as cooperators in tho conduct of elaborate scientific investigations. The mental attributes which have contributed to this result possibly lie also at tho root of another fact which hns come under our notice-namely, that, when given a definite task, which although of a routine character, requires for its satisfactory performance both intelligence and strict attention to dotail, medical women commonly make most excellent workers. In respect of-qualities winch make for success in practice, Mr. Roughton men-tionr-d rapidity of perception as-distinct-ly characteristic of the feminine sex. In point of fact, however, rapidity of perception and tho faculty of intuition wh'ch either result's from or is closely Billed to it,- must certainly be included in the class" of tertiary sex characteristics, and theso Mi-. Roughton prophesied would tiv?n disappear as tinio wont on. The advantage would then disappear as well. • • • Wo ouroelves have witnessed that as ordinary mental processes become augmented by studies of an advanced kind, tho power of constantly reaching an, unreasoned,

but accurate, conclusion seems to lessen, .or at all events, became less in evidence. Another point of interest in the address vfas the' belief expressed by Mr. Roughlon Hint if tilings were as they should be, men would, in no circumstances, render medical assistance to women, and his assumption was that everyone would take the same point of view. ... |"Tho fact that medical treatment has so far.rested in the hands of men, Sir. Roughton seems disposed to ascribe to custom, and • the persistence of tertiary sex characteristics. This may bo the case,-but it'does'-not seem fully to explain that preference for male medical attendants which certainly predominates among women. Part of this preference, at any rate, may be duo to the fact that neither a purely malo man nor a purely female .woman is other than an exceptional being. . Tho average man certainly contains in his composition something of tlioK) qualities which are- commonly regarded as. feminine, and these are very likely of assistance to- him in dealing with women in a fashion that appeals to them. On the other hand, tho converse condition in women may 1» t>. definite source of difficulty to them when dealing with their sisters. This converse condition is commonest in tho higher types of women, "and it is from the - higher types of women that medical women are drawn. ■■ ■ ,: ■ .

"The eventual outcome of the women doctor movement still remains to be seen; meantime 'we are disposed to believe that the time at .which the true sphere of women in medicine can- be safely, assessed has not yet arrived. But there is one thin" which can be. already ?aid with assurance: They.make not only very intelligent,, but pleasant and admirably loyal colleagues. If tho decree of osprit-de-eorps, habitually , exhibited by women, . were universal among men, the difficulties-of the medical profession in holding-. its own against organised bodies of the public and Government and municipal authorities, would be infinitely lessened. ,, •