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
time ago, was mobbed by the men when they heard who had
come amongst them, and barely escaped some very rough
usage. My courteous escort left me in the kindliest manner,
promising me an introduction to the Bethlehem. While at St.
Thomas’s I received three invitations to _post-mortems_, to
a lecture, and to the Ophthalmic Dispensary, all of which
I was compelled to decline for want of time.
At the brewery visitors enter their names. I set mine down
without the M.D.; Mr. South insisted on my adding it. I
have been asked by physicians again and again if they shall
call me doctor—they fully recognise my right. I always
answer this question in the affirmative, as a matter of
principle. I can hardly describe to you the difference
of feeling with which I entered and left the hospital. We
walked a couple of miles to dine with Mr. and Mrs. Charles
T., an elegant household, though without the fetters of
fashion; they welcomed me most kindly. My two remaining days
will be very busy: I have two or three hospitals to visit
and several people to see; indeed, engagement treads upon
engagement, so that I’ve hardly a moment to think. I thought
such excitement would have bothered me intensely. It did at
first bewilder, but now I’ve roused myself to meet it and I
really enjoy it. I’ve never had such an experience; I must
have walked ten miles a day. I come home sometimes hardly
able to move a foot; I wash and dress, and in an hour I’m
up again and fresh for as much more—the more I have to do,
the more I can. I believe I’ve never yet begun to call out
my power of working.
The girl has just come in with my letters, passport, and
papers by the ‘Europa’—what a good sight! Bless you all
ten thousand times! My next letter will probably be from
Paris....
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