Southern Medical and Surgical Journal - Georgia Regents University

;;1G Wilson, on Female Medical Education. [January,the extension is allowed for which we have contended. Wecandidly admit that this is a difficulty of some importancestill we think that it could be obviated, by specifying in thelicense or diploma, all the diseases which they might be authorizedto treat ;and by reserving the power to revoke the licenseor diploma, in case the prescribed limits should be transcended.As a protection to the community, we would suggest also thatall the disorders embraced within the range of female practicebe distinctly enumerated at the public Commencement, and inthe public prints. The necessity of having the female medicals attached to our regular colleges, will be readily rni/.ed as an important feature in securing the success of theabove plan.Without dwelling more on professional objections,which we hope, after all. are more imaginary than real, we willnotice, lastly, and very briefly, some of the difficulties that mayoriginate among females themselves. The most prominent ofthese is the natural timidity of the sex, and the fear of incurringpublic odium.v, it is too true, that the proverbial ignorance and wantof refinement, which characterize the midwives "four country,had a tendency to bring female practitioners into disrepute.And we may add, that the natural aversion of the refinedand sensitive females of the South to public display hased by the ultra and radical Woman's Rights movementsof some of our Northern states. We would answer these objectionsby Baying, that the reproach of ignorance and coness would be removed, by the substitution of refined andeducated female physicians, and the only cause of public odiumbe thus dispelled. While females confined themselves, then, tothe honorable and useful sphere conceded to them by the medicalprofession, and required by the wants of the community,they would have nothing to fear, either direct or incidentalbut, on the contrary, they would be animated and encouragedby the fraternal smiles of physicians, and theapplause and patronageof a grateful people. The last difficulty to be noticed,and we think the most important, is the social and don.relations of females. It is generally conceded, that the naturaland conventional circumstances by which woman is surround d,conspire to render home her most appropriate sphere ; anil it