Pioneer Work in Opening the Medical Profession to WomenBlackwell, Elizabeth
History
Pioneer Work in Opening the Medical Profession to Women
Blackwell, Elizabeth
Blackwell, Elizabeth, 1821-1910; Women physicians -- United States -- Biography
For three weeks I lay in bed with both eyes closed, then
the right eye began to open gradually, and I could get up
and do little things for myself. How kind everybody was! I
shall never forget it. Anna, with her faith in magnetism,
came down regularly three times a day in rain and snow to
sympathise and impart ‘the vital fluid.’ My friendship
deepened for my young physician, and I planned a little
present for his office. Madame Charrier entered into it with
spirit; we had long discussions together, and finally secured
an elegant pair of lamps for his consultation-rooms, which
I hurried through the corridors to see, bundled up in my
dressing-gown and shawl, looking and feeling very much like
a ghost. The lamps were conveyed to his room that night. The
next morning he came to me evidently full of delight, and
longing to be amiable, yet too conscientious to infringe
the rules of the Maternité by acknowledging the present.
He admired my braid of long hair, wondered how fingers
without eyes could arrange anything so beautifully regular;
spoke of the Protestant religion, thought if he joined any
Church it would be that; turned to go, turned back again,
and was evidently hardly able to leave without thanking me.
Mlle. Mallet told me that the night before he had run in
to Madame Charrier to tell her of his present, and on his
way out passed by the cloisters in an evident perplexity,
longing to enter the infirmary of the _élèves_, but unable
to do so. I do admire his delicate conscientiousness!
I received a visit from M. Davenne, who had sent me a
message of sympathy. I could not clearly make him out with
my dim eye, but had a general idea of a short, elderly
man standing hat in hand, and regarding me as one would
a solemn religious spectacle. M. Boivin made some very
friendly remarks to me, and concluded, raising his hand,
‘et, voyez-vous? c’est d’une patience.’
‘Angélique!’ replied M. Davenne.
_Saturday, 22nd._—Oh, how happy I am at this moment, for
Dubois has just left me, understanding for the first time
the justice of my determination to obtain a full medical
education, and obliged to confess that I was right in
principle. I shall have my _congé_, and a hope of _cliniques_
and study in the Eccentric hospitals. Heaven has answered
that heart-cry of the other night.
_Wednesday, 26th._—Off actually! I dressed for the first
time. Bandaged and veiled; the carriage drove to the door,
Anna guided me in. I made kind adieus, caught glimpses
of stone walls in the cold dull light, and thus ended my
Maternité life. I felt very weak, and laughed hysterically
the whole evening.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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