On this page
-
Text (1)
-
92 ELIZABETH BLACKWELL.
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
To The Editors Of The English Woman's Jo...
been delivered , the -wearer of the black silk dress ascended to the the platform hands with of Dr a . Lee number the of venerable her brother President -students of , the and University received from , the
word much- Dominus desired Di ch p anged loma , , to whi Domina ch with , admitted its seal her and into blue the riband ranks , and of the the
Medical fraternity , hitherto closed against her sex . Each student , on receiving the diploma , returned a few words of thanks . On receiving hers , Dr . Elizabeth replied , in a low voice , but amidst a
hush of curiosity and interest so intense that the words were audible throughout the building , — iven to studies
b " the I thank Institution you , Mr of . which President , for are the the san head cti . on With g the hel my of the Most y Hihit shall be the endeavour you of my life to do honour p to the
g , Di The ploma Presiden you have t , in conferred his concluding upon me address . " , alluded to the presence
of a lady-student during the collegiate course then closing , as " an innovation that had been in every way a fortunate one" and stated
, that " the zeal and energy she had displayed in the acquisition of science had offered a brilliant example to the whole class ; " that
" her presence had exercised a beneficial influence upon her fellowstudents in all respects "; that " the average attainments and
general conduct of the students during the period she had passed among them were of a higher character than those of any class that
had been assembled in the College since he had been connected with the Institution ; " and that " the most cordial good wishes of
her instructors would go with her in her future career . " The thesis written by her for this occasion was highly approved
by her Professors , and was printed by order of the Faculty . Soon after . her graduation Dr . Elizabeth returned to Europe , with
a view to the further prosecution of her medical studies . After a short stay in England she proceeded to Paris , and applied for
admission to the Medical Schools and the Hospitals . But though provided with letters of introduction to many of the most eminent
physicians and professors of the capital , she was for some time unable to obtain access to any of the facilities so liberally provided
for Medical Students of the other sex . Most of the physicians just alluded to assured her that it would be impossible for her , as a
woman , to gain an entrance into the Schools or the Hospitals ; and strongly advised her to assume masculine attire , as not only the
readiest , but the only way of accomplishing her end . Such an expedient , however , she at once rejected , as repugnant to her tastes ,
and contrary to the aim she had in view . She invariably replied , when urged to its adoption , " I am not acting for myself alone , but
for the sake of all other women ; and what I wish to do I must do as a womanor not at all . " She accordingly persevered in her
, efforts , and at length succeeded in gaining admittance , as a
residentpupil , into the great Lying-in Hospital of the Maternite , and in
92 Elizabeth Blackwell.
92 ELIZABETH BLACKWELL .
-
-
Citation
-
English Woman’s Journal (1858-1864), April 1, 1858, page 92, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ewj/issues/ewj_01041858/page/20/
-