MEDICAL WOMEN.

Globe, Volume VI, Issue 620, 14 June 1876, Page 3

MEDICAL WOMEN.

The London correspondent of the Aryns writes:—" The present Administration makes some capital of its courtesy in receiving deputations. Whether it bo Mr Disraeli or any subordinate member of the Cabinet, the polite anxiety which they show to hear opinions or get information contrasts advantageously with the rebuffs which deputations were wont to get from the outspoken Robert Lowe, and which undoubtedly contributed in their small degree to diminish the popularity of the Gladstone Government. Among the deputations of the last month was one to the Duke of Richmond and Gordon (the title taken on the last creation of peerages), consisting of ladies and gentlemen interested in the registration of properly educated medical women. Amongst the former were Mrs Garrett Anderson, M.D. and Miss Jex Blake ; and amongst the latter Lord Aberdare and Mr Stansfeld, M.P., who was the first spokesman. The ladies have made a hard lighten this question, but obtained no proper standing ground. There is no actual law to prohibit their admission to the medical profession, but the nineteen examining boards by whom alone certificates can be granted, have refused to examine women with a view of ascertaining their competency for practice. The only body that does not exchule women as women is the Society of Apothecaries, but they practically refuse them admission, for they only examine those educated at the public medical schools already recognised, aud from these schools women are shut oat. On the Continent women can obtain an excellent medical education, but then no foreign diploma is admitted to registration here. Yet the Medical Council reported, after three days’ debate, that they 1 were not prepared to say that women ought to be excluded from the profess on.’ Mr Stausfeld now pleaded their cause, oa two main grounds (I) The a priori right which all women had to gain their livelihood by an honorable calling, and equal right which suffering women could advance to be attended, if they wished st, by pbysicans of their own sex ; and (2) the interests of medicine itself, as a science and as an art. It was no part of the theory of those whom he represented to assort the identity of the two sexes; on the contrary, they bclieml in essential differences between them regarded faculties, instincts, and special kinds of activity. But he urged that the sensitiveness, quickness, delicacy, and self-possession in which women so frequently excelled men were all qualities highly fitting them for

medical practice. Tbo Duke of Richmond and Gordon asked whether it was intended that women should attend women only. Mr Stansfdd replied that ho presumed their practice would be among their own sex, but what they desired was an education complete in all its branches, and a diploma qualifying them for general practice. Mrs Dr Garrett Anderson remarked that several of the examining bodies seemod to doubt whether they had the power to examine women, aud that an authoritative declaration of that power might solve the difficulty. Miss Jex Blake, who endured something like persecution in Edinburgh, culled attention also to the fact that it had never yet been decided that any of the Boards had the power to refuse examination. Lord Aberdare thought all the nineteen Boards should be required to examine without distinction of person. But all the deputation could obtain was a promise that the subject should be fully considered. The Government are not prepared to announce any distinct line of action.