Woman as a physician / by J. P. Chesney, M.D.

  • Chesney, J. Portman (Jesse Portman)
Date:
[cbetween 1800 and 1899?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Woman as a physician / by J. P. Chesney, M.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    Surgical Beporter^ June 25,1870), I can hardly be persuaded that it was a prurient and itching curiosity which called them there, nothing else (having reference to nine young ladies whom he had observed attending a surgical clinic sometime during the winter before), as it might have been in them that exalted and responsible feeling which actuates all true devotees of physic, urging them to sacrifice, on the altar of science and future benevolence, all the grosser feel- ings of the human soul, and giving thqm power to rise su- perior to the groveling propensities, which so often animate the hearts of those engaged in pursuits less related in their nature to the ministrations of the angels. I apprehend that even young men are usually so deeply impressed with the solemnity and responsibility inseparably connected with the associations and work of the practicing physician or surgeon, that in most cases, even during their pupilage, prurience is seldom an important element in their cogitations. I am of the opinion, and few will take issue with me upon this particular, I presume, that the same truth will hold good, and to a much greater extent applied to females under like circumstances, as I believe the female sex to be master, or mistress rather, of their sensual appetites, to a far greater extent than are men. I can think of no better test, than to ask every medical gentleman, who has conscientious doubts as to the moral propriety of women assuming the duties of physicians, to apply his objections to himself, in relation to his own feelings, when young, and perambulating the wards of women's hospitals, or to the sentiments which actuate him in his professional dealings with the opposite sex; and I am safe in the assertion, that he will be the better fitted to render an impartial verdict in the case at variance. Can he not be generous enough to allow that pure feelings would animate and inspire to noble efforts, in relieving human suf- ferino-3, her heart as well as his? Is she not his equal, if not his superior, in all the moral and Christian attributes? it is an idea extremely paradoxical, to suppose that woman, the fairest and best of God's handiwork, and practical medicine.