and unsatisfying. It is light and trivial in its nature. It may delight
a few hours, but then follows the reaction--a dull and heavy sinking of
the heart--a sluggish dreariness--a neglect of duty--a disdain for the
actual realities of life. The prose of most magazines is only love
dreams--the poetry froth. Such light nutriment is unfit for the souls of
women--such ethereal diet can never satisfy the cravings of an immortal
mind. But some improvement has taken place in part of our magazine
literature, and a few of our reviews equal those of any country.
Subjects are as numerous as the objects around us, and suited to all
moods and diversities of mind. To the contributor, I would say: Your
writing will be likely to find readers--whether it be grave or gay--sad
or sprightly--witty or jovial; whether one making a draught on the
imagination or the judgment; whether one displaying your own
attainments, or calling to aid the opinions and acquirements of others;
in short, one of thought, fancy, or facts. Your friends may like your
ideas draped in poetry, or the more substantial dress of prose. One is
like gold, the other like iron. One serves for ornament, the other for
use. The true poet is a gifted person; a heaven-born talent does he or
she possess. If you have good descriptive talents, you can write
stories, laying the scenes in far-away countries that are not much
known, and yet eliciting some interest. And as to the subjects of a
moral caste, their name is legion. Magazine writing furnishes a
palatable way of drawing attention to individual foibles, or furnishing
a satire on the inconsistencies and exactions of society in general. If
you attempt to write natural stories, let your scenes and events be such
as occur in every-day life. It has been suggested that a good
publication, like the _Atlantic Monthly_, conducted entirely by women,
would do great good, but we fear it would not be supported. I was told,
however, by the gentleman who has charge of _Harper's Magazine_, that
two thirds of the articles are contributed by women, and they receive
better prices than men would. The _Saturday Press_ says that _Harper's
Magazine_ pays its writers $7.50 to $10 per page; the _Atlantic
Monthly_, from $6 to 10; the _Knickerbocker_, $3, which is equal to $5
for _Harper_ and $6 for the _Atlantic_; the _North American Review_,
$1.50 per page. The prices mentioned are said by one supposed to know,
to be exaggerated, and made the exception, not the rule. Mr. H. C.
Carey, in an article styled "Rewards of Authorship," writes: "I have now
before me a statement from a single publisher, in which he says that to
Messrs. Willis, Longfellow, Bryant, and Allston, his price was uniformly
$50 for a poetical article, long or short--and his readers know that
they were generally very short; in one case only fourteen lines. To
numerous others, it was from $25 to $40. In one case he has paid $25 per
page for prose. To Mr. Cooper he paid $1,800 for a novel, and $1,000 for
a series of naval biographies, the author retaining the copyright for
separate publication; and in such cases, if the work be good, its
appearance in the magazine acts as the best of advertisements. To Mr.
James, he paid $1,200 for a novel, leaving him also the copyright. For a
single number of his journal, he has paid to authors $1,500."
=18. Missionaries.= Miss Rice, a missionary in Constantinople, has a
large school for girls. Some of her scholars live in Constantinople, but
most of them are from abroad--different parts of Turkey and Western
Asia. "In England, Scotland, Ireland, and Germany, females organize
societies of their own, and send out teachers and readers of their own
sex. Ladies in England have had a society there twenty-five years,
expressly for sending out and sustaining single ladies to work for
heathen women, and they have already themselves sent two hundred into
the field, at a cost of many thousands of pounds. If any of the lady
missionaries sent out by the ladies' society in England desire to leave
the work within five years, they shall be at liberty to do so, but shall
refund to that society the cost of sending them out." Mrs. Ellen B.
Mason, a missionary of Burmah, is now in New York, endeavoring to obtain
female missionaries to return with her. A lady (Mrs. Bigelow) was
employed among the city missionaries in Boston, at a salary of $350.
From the last reports of the American Board of Foreign Missions, the Old
School Presbyterian, the Protestant Episcopal, the Methodist, and Dutch
Reformed, we find 451 lady missionaries were supported by their Boards
at the time of making out the reports. The American Board had in charge
185 among foreign nations, and among the Indians 41 = 226. Of those sent
out by this Board, 26 are unmarried. The Old School Presbyterian has 78
among the Indians (33 unmarried), and among heathen 53 (3 of the number
single) = 131. The Baptist Foreign Missions number 34 (none unmarried).
The American Baptist Union require every lady and gentleman that go out
as missionaries from their Board to marry before they go. The Dutch
Reformed have 11 among foreign nations. The Protestant Episcopal have 26
foreign missionaries (all married). The Methodist 17 (2 unmarried). In a
manual for the use of missionaries and missionary candidates in
connection with the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian
Church, we find the laborers needed for the foreign field are: 1st,
ordained ministers of the gospel; 2d, physicians; 3d, school teachers;
4th, printers; 5th, farmers and mechanics; 6th, unmarried female
teachers. In referring to all the other classes but the first mentioned,
it reads: "Though not called to preach the gospel, their Christian
profession requires from them the same devotedness to the cause of
Christ, according to the circumstances in which the providence of God
has placed them, that is required from the ministers of the gospel. The
application should be in writing, and the candidate should state briefly
his age, education, employment, the length of time he has been a
professor of religion, his motive and reasons for desiring to be a
missionary, the field he prefers, and the state of his health. For a
female this information may be given through a third person. No person
will be appointed to the service of the Board until the executive
committee have obtained as thorough a knowledge as possible of his or
her character. For this purpose a personal acquaintance is very
desirable. In all cases, written testimonials, full and explicit, must
be forwarded." The treasurer of the Presbyterian Board said the salary
depends on place and qualifications. The Treasurer of the Dutch Reformed
Missions said a single lady receives from $300 to $400, according to her
qualifications. Piety and a good common education are all that is
necessary. They learn the language after arriving at their place of
destination. None go without a certificate from a physician, saying they
are free from organic disease. If their health fails so that they cannot
recover, their passage home is paid, and they are supported for one year
after. The minister connected with the Methodist Board said the salary
depends on the places, and no particular preparation is requisite. They
have many more applicants than they have places for.
=19. Medical Missionaries.= An association in Philadelphia educates a
limited number of ladies to go out as medical missionaries. Any
information in regard to this association may be obtained from Mrs.
Sarah J. Hale, 1418 Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia. The enterprise
opens to such missionaries a wide field of usefulness, that cannot be
reached in any other way. A number are now wanting in foreign countries.
Rev. Mr. Dwight, writing from Constantinople in 1852, very highly
commends the plan of giving to some female missionaries a medical
education. He refers to the secluded lives of the females in oriental
nations, to their ignorance, and the superstitious reverence felt by the
people for those acquainted with diseases and their remedies. He thinks
that in Constantinople, among all ranks of people, and even among the
Mohammedans, a female physician would find constant practice, and gain
an access to the female portion of the community that missionaries
cannot. And, if pious, in the capacity of physician, she could do much
to promote their spiritual welfare. A knowledge of the Turkish language
would be indispensable; and some acquaintance with French and Italian,
Dr. Dwight recommends. And it was thought by some of the missionaries in
India, before the rebellion occurred, that medical missionary ladies
could accomplish much good there, especially at Calcutta. Missionaries
in various other countries have also given it as their opinion that a
great deal of good might be done in heathen countries by medical ladies.
=20. Physicians.= It is only within the last few years that women have
received any preparation for the practice of medicine in our country.
But it is now advancing in a way that is very gratifying to the friends
of the cause, and is beginning to be appreciated by the people. Many of
the most learned and talented men in the profession approve of women
devoting themselves to the practice of medicine on their own sex and
children. The mildness and amiability of woman, her modesty, her
delicacy and refinement, all tend to make her acceptable at the bedside.
Her quick insight into the ailments of others and her promptness in
offering a remedy enhance her value. Some think the modesty and delicacy
that should characterize a physician are lost to a lady in acquiring a
knowledge of the profession. We would think not any more than by a
gentleman. Why should the result be different? And surely a woman wants
in her physician, whether male or female, a person of pure thoughts and
feelings. Some say women have not firmness and nerve enough to perform
surgical operations--that if they have, it is only animal force. What is
it but animal force that gives the superiority to men (if they are
superior)? Some say that such a profession may call woman among an
objectionable class of people. "The fact that the practice of medicine
draws its support from the miseries and sufferings of the world is no
objection to its respectability. What profession is there that does not
draw its support from some suffering, necessity, or disability?--unless
it be that of the mountebank." Another objection urged is, that women
lose their delicacy by the study and practice of anatomy under a male
physician. This offensive feature is removed in the Female Medical
College of Philadelphia, where that post has been filled by a woman for
six or seven years. It is filled, writes one of the professors, to the
full satisfaction, I believe, alike of the class and the faculty. In
1758, Anna Manzolini was professor of anatomy in Bologna. We believe, if
a lady acquires a knowledge of medicine, it should be a thorough one.
Undoubtedly too much strong medicine has been used in the United States,
and that will account to some extent for the bad health of American
women. Night practice and the inclemencies of the weather are the
greatest difficulties a woman must contend with in the practice of
medicine. If a lady has means, she can command a conveyance of her own.
As to practising at night, she can have some one to accompany her, if in
the city. If in a town, village, or the country, she will be likely to
know who the people are, and have a conveyance sent for her. If a woman
acquires a thorough knowledge of medicine, she can better promote the
well-being and preserve the health of herself and children. No lady
should undertake the practice of medicine unless she feels competent in
every way to do so. If she does, let her enter with her soul into it,
and keep constantly in view her object to relieve the suffering and
bring health to the diseased. The practice of medicine is more
renumerative than teaching. Mrs. Hale, who strongly advocates the
practice of medicine by ladies, says: "Teachers grow out of fashion as
they grow old; physicians, on the contrary, gain credit and reputation
from length of practice." There is one department of medicine that we
think belongs to women, and women alone. It is midwifery. In the feudal
times many ladies of rank and wealth prescribed and measured out
medicines for their tenants, and many women practised midwifery. It is
proved by Dr. Saul Gregory, of Boston, founder of the New England Female
Medical College, that the practice of male physicians in the department
of midwifery is not only injurious, but destructive of human life. He
writes: "I have within the past six months made an effort to ascertain
the number of lady graduates, having written to the different schools
where they have graduated. From the number certainly ascertained, with
the addition of a probable number of others, I should say that there are
at least two hundred graduated female physicians in the United States.
The number from this (the New England Female Medical College) is
thirty-four. The field is broad enough, of course, for many thousands;
and to women of good natural abilities and suitable acquirements there
is a prospect of success in all of the cities and large villages of the
country. They will more readily find professional employment now and
henceforward than they have during the past ten years, inasmuch as the
idea of female medical practice has become more familiar to the public
mind, and the custom is becoming gradually established. The tuition in
medical colleges generally is from $60 to $80 a term. Board is from $2
to $4, according to circumstances. About $30 worth of medical books are
needed. This college has a scholarship fund, affording free tuition to a
large number of students from any part of the world." Dr. Gregory
expresses our views in regard to more unoccupied women entering the
profession of medicine, so much better than we could do, that we will
transcribe what he says on the subject: "Man, the lord of creation, has
the world before him, and can choose his profession or pursuit--war,
politics, agriculture, commerce, mechanic arts, mercantile affairs (not
excepting ribbon and tape), and a thousand vocations and diversions.
There are said to be 40,000 physicians in the United States. 20,000 of
these ought to give place to this number of women, and turn their
attention to pursuits better adapted to their strong muscles and strong
minds. In addition to providing for the self support of 20,000 or more
women, this change would relieve that number of men, and secure to the
country the benefit of their mental and manual industry--quite an item
in our political economy and national wealth. Of course, this very
desirable change cannot be brought about so suddenly as to create any
great disturbance in the established order of things, even if the
enterprise is carried forward with all possible vigor; so that
physicians now in the field need not be greatly alarmed in prospect of
female competition." We think, all diseases peculiar to women, or
surgical operations on women requiring any exposure of person, should be
treated and performed by women alone. Many a woman suffers for months,
or years, and often a lifetime, because of that instinctive delicacy
that makes her rather suffer than be treated by a male physician. Those
that prepare themselves as physicians should be ladies of honor,
education, and refinement. In most families, after the minister of the
gospel, the physician holds the next highest place in the esteem of the
members. Other subjects than those of medicine are often discussed, and
the advice of a physician sought on matters of vital importance to those
interested. The free, unembarrassed entrance of a physician into the
sanctum of home, gives an opportunity of learning much that should be
sacredly preserved in their own hearts. A lady physician needs firmness
and dignity in the maintenance of her rights and opinions. When a woman
is weak both in body and mind, timid and fearful, how much better can
one of her own sex soothe her! It may be the nurse has not time, in a
charitable, or even in a pay institution. But if her physician is a
woman, well acquainted with her profession, and possessing discernment,
sympathy, and some knowledge of the human heart, how readily may she
read the inner as well as the outer wants of her patient! She will treat
her gently and tenderly; and if the patient be a mother, the physician
will see her family now and then, to relieve her patient's anxiety. If
she is poor, she will speak to some of her rich patients, or
acquaintances, to see that she is furnished with suitable employment
when she is well. And so she will interest herself about those matters
most male physicians would never think of, or, if they did, would
consider beneath their attention. "In Paris, for a long period, women
have studied medicine with the best physicians, who used them as
supplements, to attend the poor and do some of the hospital practice."
Two lady physicians became quite distinguished in Paris, and a hospital
was in the entire charge of one. The statistics and professional reports
of these ladies are now accepted by the best physicians in all
countries. Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell has lately established a hospital in
New York city, where ladies studying medicine can have the benefits
arising from the observation and experience acquired in a hospital. This
has long been considered almost essential in the education of male
students. In the same city is a preparatory school of medicine conducted
by professors connected with the medical schools of the city. They give
separate instruction to a class of ladies, who are admitted to the
clinical teachings of two of the largest dispensaries in the city. These
dispensaries furnish upwards of 60,000 cases of disease annually. In
1850, a charter was granted to the Female Medical College of
Pennsylvania. A college was commenced in Boston about the same time.
Both of these schools are for females exclusively, and each has
graduated about fifty pupils. In the Pennsylvania Medical University
both sexes are received. In some branches the presence of mixed classes
is embarrassing to both professors and pupils, and that free
communication desirable for acquiring and imparting information is
partially checked. This difficulty is done away in some female colleges
by employing competent lady professors. In Europe, women are not
permitted to receive instruction with the male students, but in hospital
practice they have excellent opportunities of gaining information as
nurses and physicians. I know of no pursuit that offers a more inviting
field for educated women than the practice of medicine. The ability of
woman to study and practice medicine has been satisfactorily
demonstrated. Some ladies have graduated at both the allopathic and
homoeopathic schools in Cleveland. The allopathic school in that place
was the first to admit ladies. Different motives actuate ladies in the
study of medicine. The wives of some manufacturers, planters, and
others, who reside where medical advice is not easily obtained, study
medicine that they may prescribe for their husbands' employées. Some
study medicine that they may have something to rely upon in case other
resources should fail them. Some teachers have studied that they may
instruct their pupils in the laws of hygiene and remedies for disease.
Quite a number of lady physicians are employed in female boarding
schools. The benefit resulting from having the advice of a physician at
any hour of the day or night is very great, and must relieve the
superintendents of schools and absent parents from much anxiety. Some
ladies prefer giving advice at their residences. A lady that devotes
herself to a speciality should endeavor to keep posted in all the
branches of her profession, so far as she can without neglecting to
acquire all the information possible in her speciality. "In the United
States there are 40,564 physicians, 191 surgeons, 5,132 apothecaries,
456 chemists, 923 dentists, 59 oculists, 59 patent medicine makers.
There are 35 medical colleges, 230 professors, and about 5,000
students." Dr. Ann Preston, of the Pennsylvania Female Medical College,
writes me: "Of those in practice who graduated with us, quite a number
have found it very remunerative, and the prospect for others to secure
practice is most encouraging, if they only possess the requisite
qualifications. The desire to employ ladies as physicians is constantly
extending, and my faith in the triumphant and extensive vindication of
the movement deepens from year to year. There are openings in perhaps
nearly all the cities and villages of our land--certainly in Eastern
Pennsylvania; but in choosing a physician, people must have confidence
in the sound judgment, good character, and professional ability of those
they employ. A woman settling among strangers is more liable to
suspicion than a man; and in such a case it takes _time_, and a long
continuance in well doing, to become established in a lucrative
practice. It also requires _means_; and unless these are abundant, it is
much better for the lady physician to settle where she is already known
and respected, and where, among her friends, she can live at small
expense. Still, in one or two cases, our students have gone
_successfully_ among strangers, earning enough to bear their expenses
during the first two years. The cost of fitting a lady of moderate
abilities for the practice of medicine varies. The whole cost of two or
more courses of lectures and graduation is $175. Board here is from $3
to $5 a week for students, everything included. The needful text books
would cost from $20 to $25; then travelling expenses, clothes, &c. I
have known ladies commence with only one or two hundred dollars in
advance, teach school during the summers, and graduate in three or four
years. Sometimes these have come as beneficiaries. Still it is much more
comfortable to have six or seven hundred to depend upon during the
course of study. The time also varies, but we think no person should
graduate who has not studied two years and upward. A large proportion of
our graduates have studied medicine three years, and several have spent
the next year in the hospital in New York. We are about opening a
hospital here, which, in case of some, will obviate this necessity. I
believe ladies in practice here generally make the charges common among
men physicians; and several of them realize a handsome competence, and
are gladdened by seeing, year by year, that prejudice is passing away,
and that medicine is proving a fitting and glorious sphere for the
exercise of woman's best powers." There are several regularly educated
female physicians engaged in the practice of medicine in Philadelphia,
some in New York, and some in Boston, with a few in other cities of the
North, South, and West, and here and there scattered through towns,
villages, and the country. There is an opening for one or two
well-qualified physicians in New Orleans that can speak the Italian and
Spanish languages. Many physicians find it an advantage to have a
knowledge of the French and German languages, on account of the large
foreign population in our country. Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell writes: "It
is very difficult by letter to answer your question about medical
education. It is almost impossible for a lady to get a _good_ medical
education without going to Europe. Philadelphia or Boston would give a
woman the _legal right_ to practise medicine, and that is the chief
value of what is given, for the exclusively theoretical instruction of
those colleges could be as well obtained by reading and private tuition.
New York can furnish much valuable practical instruction, but not the
legal right. Between the two places, a student who will spend four years
may become a respectable young physician, without going to Europe; but
fully that period of time is necessary to pick up scattered knowledge,
&c. A lady should be able to command $2,000 during the four years. She
is otherwise very much crippled in her studies. There is a real
necessity for women physicians; therefore, in course of time they will
be created; but the imperfect efforts and most inadequate preparation of
those who now study, rather retard the movement, and the creation of
practice is a very slow thing." I called on Mrs. ----, M. D. She goes
out at night when called--sometimes alone, sometimes takes her female
student. She thinks there must be openings South and West, and that the
prospect for lady physicians is very good. She supposes the cost of a
medical education would be about $1,500. I called on Mrs. ----, M. D.,
who practises medicine, and often lectures on diseases and their
remedies. She walks to see her patients, or rides in stages, but the
majority come to her dwelling in office hours. She never goes out at
night except where she is acquainted. She has a small number of
students. She has a speciality, but does not confine herself to it. She
attends several families by the year, charging, I think, $200 a year.
She thinks many intelligent ladies might, if they would qualify
themselves thoroughly, succeed in establishing themselves as physicians.