Pioneer Work in Opening the Medical Profession to WomenBlackwell, Elizabeth
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Pioneer Work in Opening the Medical Profession to Women
Blackwell, Elizabeth
Blackwell, Elizabeth, 1821-1910; Women physicians -- United States -- Biography
The first night I was
thus rudely awakened I was much inclined to be angry, but
I philosophised a little and came to the conclusion that
it was my voluntary action to be there, and that youthful
spirits must have free play. I pitied the poor children in
their undeveloped life and the restrictions they suffer
here too much to be disturbed by their little outburst,
and the next morning they begged me to excuse them because
they were _so young_!
My time is very fully occupied; my former leisure moments are
now employed in writing compositions and taking observations.
These last I willingly consent to; they will be records to me
of French practice. They consist of a little history of the
patient and a daily account of her condition and treatment.
But as they are in French, I am somewhat longer in noting
them down than I should be if I could employ my own noble
language. I have made two ‘observations’ of surgical cases
that have been very much approved of. I was quite amused
with one of them. I was directed to note the case down under
the direction of my chief in that department. As usual, I
did promptly and cheerfully what was required; I wrote all
she dictated, and then I made a private memorandum for my
own satisfaction. This latter was seen by the Superior,
and immediately the ‘chief’ was directed to copy it; she
did it willingly, for she is a good little being, and has
a profound respect for the stranger. The other day two
of our chiefs begged me to give them a private lesson on
the circulation of the blood, which I willingly complied
with. We seated ourselves in the wood, and I explained to
them what they did not know; they were very grateful, and
have come to me several times since to beg me to continue
my lesson—indeed, the girls here have a sweet nature in
many respects. There are little jealousies and excitements
amongst themselves, but they take the right relationship
to me; they think me singularly grave and self-sufficing,
but they show me continually the utmost respect, and are
always glad to do me any little service. I frequently enter
the _salle d’accouchements_, when the other divisions are
engaged there, to see what is going on, and I always meet
a pleasant welcome. One evening I phrenologised them,
to their unbounded delight; for some time after I could
never enter the room without being surrounded by a small
mob eagerly demanding an examination. Everything delights
them; they are perfect children in their full, unthinking
enjoyment of the present. A little English lesson is a
never-failing source of merriment, and I am continually
saluted with some oddly pronounced English word, followed
by a burst of merriment. We have girls from all parts of
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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