[87] I am sorry to say that hardly a year later a majority of these lecturers were so overborne by the prevailing medical influence, that they rescinded the above regulations, merely permissive as they were, and, in spite of the remonstrances of the gentlemen whose classes we had attended, passed a resolution forbidding any of their number to instruct lady students, either in mixed or separate classes, in Surgeons’ Hall. That no doubt whatever might remain as to the _animus_ which dictated this resolution, they distinctly confined the prohibition to the case of ladies _who were registered students of medicine_,--expressly allowing the continued instruction of midwives! I wish that space would permit of my quoting the remarks made on this occasion by the _Scotsman_ of July 19, 1871, and by other papers. [88] See _Note K_. [89] See _Note L_. [90] This mob was not wholly or mainly composed of our fellow-students at Surgeons’ Hall, though a few of them were present. The larger number, however, belonged to the lowest class of University students, who had been summoned together by an anonymous missive circulated in the class-rooms the same morning. [91] See _Note M_. [92] It is worth remark that, for the first time within memory, lady contributors used their right of voting on this occasion, and it is tolerably significant that more than a dozen voted on our behalf, and not one against us. The number of doctors who voted for us was three or four; against us, more than twenty. [93] The text of the petition was as follows:-- “_To the Court of Contributors to the Royal Infirmary._ “LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,--We, the undersigned Women of Edinburgh, not being able to attend the Meeting at which the admission of Female Medical Students to the Infirmary will be discussed, desire hereby to express our great interest in the issues involved, and our earnest hope that full facilities for Hospital study will be afforded by the Managers to all women who desire to enter the Medical Profession.” [94] See _Note N_. [95] Several of the principal citizens, including the senior member for Edinburgh, had spoken strongly on our behalf at the meetings just mentioned; indeed it has been remarkable throughout how strongly the municipal element has been on our side, while the leaders of the opposition have, with hardly an exception, been medical men, and their immediate friends and followers. [96] See _Note O_. [97] See _Note P_. [98] See _Note Q_. [99] See _Note R_. [100] On a subsequent very similar occasion the _Scotsman_ remarked:--“It may be noticed that this is the third time that startling announcements have been fired at the lady students on the very eve of important examinations, possibly with the professional view of testing the soundness of their nerves.”--_Scotsman_, March 21, 1872.