courses of study in the University, and found nothing but kindness
at the hands of our teachers, and courtesy from the male students,
whenever we happened to meet them in the quadrangle or on the
staircases. Even Dr Christison was reported to have said in Senatus
that, as the experiment was to be tried, he for one would co-operate to
give it a fair trial.
Though the lectures were delivered at different hours, the instruction
given to us and to the male students was identical, and, when the class
examinations took place, we received and answered the same papers at
the same hour and on identical conditions, having been told that marks
would be awarded indifferently to “both sections of the class,”--this
latter expression being, by the bye, repeatedly used during the course
of the term by both the Professors who instructed us.
I am obliged now to mention the results which appeared in the
prize-lists, not with a view to claim any special credit for the
ladies,[79] (whose efforts to obtain education might well make them
more zealous than most of the ordinary students,) but because I believe
that the facts I am about to mention had a real and immediate connexion
with subsequent events.[80]
In the class of Physiology there had been 127 male students, of whom
25 appeared in the honours list; in the Chemistry class there were 226
male students, of whom 31 obtained honours; of the 5 women, 4 were in
honours in both classes. One of the ladies obtained the third place
in the Chemistry prize-list; and, as the two gentlemen above her had
already gone through a course of lectures on the same subject, Miss
Pechey was actually first of her year. In the College calendar it was
stated that “the four students who have received the highest marks _are
entitled_ to have the Hope Scholarships,”--such scholarships giving
free admission to the College laboratory, and having been founded by
the late Professor Hope from the proceeds of lectures given to ladies
some fifty years previously.[81]
It had occurred to us that if any lady won this scholarship she might
be debarred from making full use of it as regards the laboratory,
in consequence of the prohibition against mixed classes, but as it
had been distinctly ordained that we were to be subject to “all the
regulations in force in the University as to examinations,” it had
_not_ occurred to us as possible that the very name of Hope Scholar
could be wrested from the successful candidate and given over her head
to the fifth student on the list, who had the good fortune to be a
man.[82]
But this was actually done.
At the same time that the Professor announced to us his intention of
withholding the Hope Scholarship from the student who had won it, on
the ground that, having studied at a different hour, she was not a
member of _The Chemistry Class_, though he, at the same time, gave her
a bronze medal of the University, (to which I should think her claim
must have been neither greater nor less, since these medals were given
to the five students highest on the list,) he offered us written
certificates of having attended a “ladies’ class in the University,” as
of course he saw that to give the ordinary certificates of attendance
on “_The_ Chemistry Class of the University” would be to destroy his
own argument with reference to the Scholarship. As, however, such
certificates were absolutely worthless to us as students of medicine,
we declined them, and appealed to the Senatus to ordain that the
ordinary certificates should be granted to us, as they alone would
qualify for professional examination. At the same time Miss Pechey made
an appeal to have the Hope Scholarship awarded to her in due course. It
is hardly credible that (by very narrow majorities in each case) the
Senatus decided that we were to have exactly the ordinary certificates,
which declared us to have attended _the Chemistry Class_ of the
University of Edinburgh, and yet acquiesced in Miss Pechey’s being
deprived of her Scholarship on the ground that she was not a member of
that class!
I do not wish to dwell longer on these incidents, but I have narrated
them here because I believe that the above mentioned results of the
class examinations aroused in our opponents a conviction that the
so-called experiment was not going to fail of itself, as they had
confidently hoped, but that if it was to be suppressed at all, vigorous
measures must be taken for that purpose.
At the previous meeting of the University Council, no Professor had
stood up to oppose the admission of women, though Dr Andrew Wood had
covered himself with glory by protesting that he had too many sons to
provide for, to acquiesce in the education of women for the Medical
Profession![83] At the next meeting, however, of the Council, in
April 1870, Professor Masson moved that, in view of the success that
had hitherto attended the ladies’ studies, the existing regulations
should be so far relaxed as to allow of the attendance of women in the
ordinary classes, where no special reasons existed to the contrary,
that they might be spared the additional expense, inconvenience, and
difficulty, attendant on the formation of separate classes in every
subject. Professor Balfour, Dean of the Medical Faculty, seconded
this motion, and expressed his opinion that arrangements might easily
be made to carry it out. Professors Laycock and Christison, however,
opposed it vigorously, and that in speeches of such a character that
the _Times_[84] remarked in a leading article:--“We cannot sufficiently
express the indignation with which we read such language, and we must
say that it is the strongest argument against the admission of young
ladies to the Edinburgh medical classes that they would attend the
lectures of Professors capable of talking in this strain.”[85] When the
vote was taken, the motion in our favour was lost by forty-seven votes
to fifty-eight, and no change was therefore made in the University
regulations.
The Professor of Botany kindly made arrangements for giving to us and
other ladies a separate course of lectures, though he much regretted
to be forced to this double, and needless, expenditure of time and
trouble. Dr Allman, the Professor of Natural History, who had in
the previous summer consented to my entering his ordinary class,
stated that his health would not allow him to undertake the labour
of two classes, and, therefore, he could not teach us. We then made
application for instruction to Dr Alleyne Nicholson, the extra-mural
teacher of the same subject, and he at once agreed to our request.
Before making any arrangements, he spoke to the members of his class
at their first meeting, and, mentioning our application, he enquired
whether they would unite with him in inviting us to join their class.
This they unanimously did; and, as we had no objection to offer, the
first “mixed class” was inaugurated, and continued throughout the
summer without the slightest inconvenience.[86]
In the meantime, we were anxious to make arrangements for the next
winter session, and it was especially necessary that a course of
instruction in Anatomy should be provided, as the subject was one of
the greatest importance, and the University professor flatly refused
either to instruct us himself or allow his assistant to do so in any
way whatever. Under these circumstances we endeavoured to obtain a
competent extra-mural teacher who should form a special class for
our instruction; but I was repeatedly warned that, by this time, the
medical prejudice had been so strongly aroused against us, and the
medical influence was so strongly at work, that we should fail in
our endeavours, as no young medical man dare run the risk of being
ostracised for giving us help. The only extra-mural teacher of Anatomy
who was already recognised by the University was Dr Handyside, who
was one of a band of nine associated lecturers who conjointly rented
a building, called Surgeons’ Hall, for their lectures. Some of these
lecturers were indignant at the way in which we were treated in
the University, and, in July 1870, they, by a majority, passed the
following resolutions:--
1. That it is expedient that lecturers in this Medical School should
be free to lecture to female as well as to male students.
2. That no restrictions be imposed on the lecturers as to the manner
in which instruction is to be imparted to women.[87]
After the passing of this regulation, we applied to Dr Handyside to
know if he could make arrangements for giving us a separate class. He
replied that it would be quite impossible for him to do so consistently
with his duty to his other students, but that if we liked to attend his
course of Anatomy in the ordinary way, he should be happy to receive
us. Dr Heron Watson similarly consented to admit us, to his ordinary
course of Lectures on Surgery, and so our arrangements for winter
lectures were complete.
The class of Practical Anatomy always meets at the beginning of
October, although the lectures do not commence till the following
month. The more studious and industrious students usually come up at
the earlier date, but those who care less about their work seldom
appear till November, as that is the beginning of the compulsory
session. All through October we studied under Dr Handyside with great
comfort; the students who worked with us, though in another part of
the room, were never uncivil, and in fact we hardly exchanged a dozen
sentences with any of them during the month. Dr Handyside and his
demonstrator both told us that they had never seen so much steady,
earnest work as since we joined the class, and expressed their opinion
that the results were quite as valuable for the male students as for
our ourselves. With November 1st the lectures began, and everything
went on satisfactorily for another ten days.
About this time, acting on the advice of a medical friend, we made
an application for permission to study in the wards of the Royal
Infirmary, and, somewhat to our surprise, were met by a curt refusal.
As we knew that several of the managers were liberal-minded and just
men, we felt sure that they could not have fully understood the
importance to us of the concession we desired, and, on enquiry, I found
this was the case. One of those who had voted against our admission
confessed to me that he had, in so doing, been guided simply by the
medical members of the Board, and that he was not even aware that we
were matriculated students of the University, and that we could not
complete our education without attending the Infirmary, as there was
no other hospital in Edinburgh of the size prescribed for “qualifying
instruction.” We, therefore, drew up a memorial stating our grounds
of application, and another was also sent in by our two teachers, Dr
Watson and Dr Handyside, urging on the Board the great injustice that
would be done by our exclusion. We also obtained and sent in a written
paper from three of the medical officers of the Infirmary, promising
to give us all needful instruction if we were admitted.[88] When
these documents were presented to the managers, a majority of those
present were in favour of our immediate admission, but, on the ground
of want of notice, our opponents got the matter deferred for a week.
From that time the behaviour of the students changed. It is not for me
to say what means were used, or what strings were pulled; but I know
that the result was, that instead of being, as heretofore, silent and
inoffensive, a certain proportion of the students with whom we worked
became markedly offensive and insolent, and took every opportunity
of practising the petty annoyances that occur to thoroughly ill-bred
lads,--such as shutting doors in our faces, ostentatiously crowding
into the seats we usually occupied, bursting into horse-laughs and
howls when we approached, as if a coalition had been formed to make
our position as uncomfortable as might be. At the same time a students’
petition against our admission to the Infirmary was handed about, and
500 signatures were obtained, though, if some of the reports I heard
were true, but a very small number out of the 500 had even read the
petition before signing it. Be this as it may, the petition was got
ready for the adjourned meeting, and when that came, every opponent
we had among the managers was at his place, while some of our friends
were unavoidably absent, and the Lord Provost, being in the chair,
was precluded from voting, so that the medical party gained an easy
victory. But when I say the medical party, I ought to explain that
three medical men voted on our side,--a point on which I shall have to
say something subsequently.
The students were naturally elated at finding so much attention paid
to their petition,[89] especially as I was told that some of the
medical Professors had warmly applauded them for their exertions, and
I suppose the lowest section among them began to wonder whether, if
they had succeeded in keeping us out of the Infirmary, they might not,
by a little extra brutality, drive us away from the lecture-room. Two
days later, came the second competitive examination of the term, and
on this day occurred the riot, when the gates were shut in our faces
by a mob,[90] who stood within, smoking and passing about bottles of
whiskey, while they abused us in the foulest possible language. It
would be difficult to speak in too strong terms of the conduct of those
engaged in this outrage, or of those who were morally responsible for
it; but I am glad to say a word to-day about a part of the story which
has not been made sufficiently public,--viz., the conduct of those of
the students whose indignation against the rioters was even deeper than
our own.[91] One gentleman rushed down from Surgeons’ Hall, and, at
great risk to himself, forced open the gates for our admission, and a
number of others made their way in after us to see that we came to no
harm. When the class, which was interrupted throughout by the clamour
outside, was over, Dr Handyside asked me if we would withdraw through a
back door, but I said that I thought there were quite enough gentlemen
in the class to protect us; and so it proved. As I spoke, a number
came around us and formed a regular body-guard in front, behind, and
on each side, and, encompassed by them, we passed through the still
howling crowd at the gate, and reached home with no other injuries
than those inflicted on our dresses by the mud hurled at us by our
chivalrous foes. Nor was this all. When we arrived at the College next
day, at the same hour, we found quite a formidable array of gentlemen
with big sticks in their hands, who were keeping back a rabble that
looked greatly disgusted, but merely vented their spite in remarkably
bad language as the gentlemen referred to raised their hats as we
approached, and instantly followed us in and took their seats on the
back rows. After the lecture was over they formed round us, as on the
evening before, escorted us home, gave us three deafening cheers, and
dispersed. The explanation of all which was, that, hearing rumours of
renewed rioting, a certain number of manly men among the students had
resolved that the thing should not be, and for the next two or three
days this same stalwart body-guard awaited and attended us daily, till
the rowdies tacitly agreed to lay aside hostilities. Then I myself
asked our volunteer guard to discontinue their most chivalrous escort,
and quiet was restored.
No further event of importance occurred during the winter, except the
meetings of Infirmary contributors, at the first of which a close
contest took place between managers known to be favourable to us and
those known to be unfriendly. A new Act came into operation at this
date, and all the managers had to vacate their seats unless re-elected.
I can give no more significant proof of the immense amount of pressure
brought to bear by the medical clique than by stating that, of the
three medical men who had voted for us six weeks before, it was found
when the day of election came that two had turned their coats, while
the one who refused to do so was unseated by the medical body that he
had represented!
At the Contributors’ Meeting on Jan. 2, 1871, at which six managers
were to be elected, the Lord Provost himself proposed the election
of six gentlemen known to be friendly to the admission of ladies to
the Infirmary; but by the very narrow majority of 94 votes to 88, the
managers previously on the Board were returned. No other question was
raised, and those who voted with the Lord Provost did so simply in
consequence of the importance they attached to the exclusion of the
ladies by those managers who now desired re-election.[92]
At a subsequent meeting, the Rev. Professor Charteris brought forward
a motion expressive of the desire of the contributors that immediate
arrangements should be made for the admission of the ladies, and
this motion was seconded by Sir James Coxe, M. D., but was lost by
a similarly small majority. On this latter occasion, two incidents
occurred that deserve notice. Firstly, a petition in favour of the
ladies’ admission was presented, signed by 956 women of Edinburgh.[93]
Secondly, Mrs Nichol, an elderly lady whose name is venerated
throughout Edinburgh, made, in spite of ill health, the great exertion
of coming forward at that public meeting, to ask one question,--“not,”
as she distinctly said, “in the interests of the lady students, but
on behalf of those women who looked forward to see what kind of men
were they who were to be the sole medical attendants of the next
generation of women, if women doctors are not allowed.” The question
which she said she had been commissioned to ask by more than 1300
women, belonging to all classes and all parts of the country, was as
follows:--
“If the students studying at present in the Infirmary cannot
contemplate with equanimity the presence of ladies as fellow-students,
how is it possible that they can possess either the scientific spirit
or the personal purity of mind which alone would justify their
presence in the female wards during the most delicate operations on,
and examinations of, female patients?”
This question was received, according to the newspaper report, with
“_Laughter, hisses, and applause_,” but no one opened his mouth to
reply. Perhaps in truth no reply could have been more significant than
the burst of yells and howls which greeted the question from a gallery
filled by students, who indeed so conducted themselves generally as to
elicit a remark to me from a learned Professor, famous for his quaint
sayings: “Well! ye can say now ye’ve fought with beasts at Ephesus!”
About the same time a petition, signed by twenty-three male
students,[94] was presented to the Infirmary managers, praying that
the lady students should no longer be excluded, but no attention was
paid to the request; and when subsequently a similar application was
made to the Managers by a deputation of very influential citizens,[95]
they again refused, by a majority, to do anything in our behalf.
Professor Balfour moved the appointment of a Committee to enquire into
a scheme for the instruction of ladies proposed by certain of the
medical officers of the Infirmary, but Professor Christison carried
an amendment negativing even this measure; and thus another year of
Hospital instruction was lost.
With each succeeding Session new students joined our small class,
partly in consequence of the very kind encouragement held out by
Lady Amberley, Dr Garrett Anderson, and other friends, in the way of
Scholarships; for, since public indignation was excited by the refusal
of the Hope Scholarship to Miss Pechey, hardly a term has passed
without some generous offer of valuable prizes for those ladies who
needed such assistance to pursue their studies, and who, by their
success in competitive examinations, showed themselves worthy of them.
Such kindness is the more valuable at a time when, by incessant delays
and constantly-recurring difficulties, every effort is evidently being
made to exhaust alike the patience and the purses of the troublesome
women who desire to complete the work they have begun.
It is not necessary for me to enter into details respecting the
ladies’ progress in their studies, further than to state that in every
course in which they have competed for prizes, more than half of the
whole class have been in the honours list, and in some cases every lady
student has so appeared;[96] so that any refusal to grant them further
instruction can hardly be based on the plea that they have not done
their best to avail themselves of what was already afforded.
During the two years, 1869–70 and 1870–71, the five original students
who entered in 1869 had completed the first half of their University
course, partly by attendance on separate classes in the University, and
partly by means of extra-mural lectures. But at the end of these two
years a dead-lock appeared imminent. The rules of the University forbid
any student to take more than four classes outside the walls, and those
four classes we had already taken. Professor Christison and others,
whose classes came next in term, gave a curt refusal to our request
for instruction, although we again offered to guarantee any fee that
might be required. In this dilemma we applied for help to the Senatus,
and suggested that, if no other means could be devised, the difficulty
might be solved in either of two ways--(1) by appointment of special
University lecturers, whose payment we would guarantee; or (2) by the
relaxation in our case of the ordinary regulations, so that we might
take an increased number of extra-mural classes. When these proposals
came before the Senatus, it was decided to take a legal opinion as to
the rights and powers of the University; and an opinion adverse to our
interests having been given, the Senatus decided, on July 28, 1871, by
a majority of one, that they would take no action in the matter.
In these circumstances, a Committee[97] of friends which had been
formed for our assistance, caused a statement of the facts to be drawn
up and submitted to other Counsel, and obtained from the Lord Advocate
and Sheriff Fraser an Opinion to the following effect:[98]--That it was
quite competent to the University authorities to make any necessary
provision for the completion of the ladies’ education; and that
the Medical Faculty were bound to admit the ladies to professional
examination on the subjects in which they were already qualified to
pass.
I must explain that the advice of counsel had been asked on this last
point in consequence of a rumour that difficulties might be made
respecting the examination that was now due at the end of two years of
professional study. The first official notice on this subject was,
however, received by us on Saturday, October 14, after the fees for
such examination had been paid, and tickets of admission obtained; the
examination itself being due on the 24th of the same month, and the
ladies concerned having studied for two years with the view of passing
this examination, for which they had more especially been preparing
assiduously for the last six months.