A Woman's Quest: The life of Marie E. Zakrzewska, M.D.Zakrzewska, Marie E. (Marie Elizabeth)
History
A Woman's Quest: The life of Marie E. Zakrzewska, M.D.
Zakrzewska, Marie E. (Marie Elizabeth)
Women physicians -- United States -- Biography; Zakrzewska, Marie E. (Marie Elizabeth), 1829-1902
With the modern expansion of the science and art of medicine and the
increasing elaboration of the required appliances and methods of
examination, hospitals have become great centers of laboratory and
clinical investigation and research. And the physician who is not able
to form contact with some such center is crippled and is compelled to
do his work either imperfectly or at the cost of tremendous additional
strain.
This is the reason why we have just said that the opening of all
hospital opportunities to women on equal terms with men is yet more
imperative to-day than it was when Dr. Zakrzewska made such valiant
battle for her sisters.
At the same time, when women seem to have attained opportunities, they
still find it necessary to remember Dr. Zakrzewska’s distrust and fear
of beguilement, to remain on guard and to take all possible steps to
keep secure all that has been so painfully achieved.
Even among nonmedical students and in circles that are supposed to be
the most broadly educated, here and there the tolerances and amenities
of civilized life develop slowly. Thus as late as October 20, 1921,
the students of the University of Cambridge (England) express their
disapproval of even “limited membership” for women by the old, worn-out
methods of mobbing and rioting--battering down and smashing the
valuable memorial gates of the women’s college, Newnham. The arrival of
the police prevented their further progress there, but at Peile Hall,
they reached the doors and tried to force entrance into the college
itself, which further outrage was again prevented by the police.[28]
In 1922 the London Hospital decided to exclude women from the classes
and services to which they had been admitted since 1908. The story
has a familiar sound--“... the chairman emphasizes the fact that the
step has not been brought about by any failure of the women students
... who have done very well in every way, in work, in conduct, and in
discipline.”[29]
Notwithstanding all the handicaps imposed on woman, she has
demonstrated that “science has no sex.” Do not her opponents now need
to demonstrate that they themselves are worthy followers of science by
accepting truth wherever it may be found and by rendering impartial
justice to every one?
As some of these pages are being written (June 21, 1921), Madame Marie
Curie is in Boston.
The morning papers report that she was yesterday given a reception
by Harvard University. President Lowell presided, and in his address
he ranked Madame Curie with “Sir Isaac Newton and other epoch-making
discoverers.” He then introduced Professor Richards of the Department
of Chemistry, who said, “The discovery of Madame Curie gave the world
new ideas concerning the structure of the universe, and opened a new
path of thought to scientists.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account