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A Woman's Medical Club

A Woman's Medical Club image
Parent Issue
Day
17
Month
January
Year
1896
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Thetirst anniversary of the Womán's Medical club of Chicago reminds us again of the f act that women's clnb3 continue to multiply and flourish and gáin respectful recognition despite the suspicions of curious Imsbands, who were inclined to subject them to critical inspection when they first began to see light, and they have reached a point, too, where they represent as much diversity in tone as the man's club. This ! medical club, formed one year ago, was I the first club of the kind ever organized in this country exclusively for women, and its object is to afford social as well as scientific advantages, to furnish opportunity for a more intímate acquaintance among women of the medical profession and bring about a harmony between them which could notexist without somemeans of meeting together and holding discussions entirely independent of the men. Women are not cordially received in men 's medical societies, so this medical club was a natural quence. Last, but not an altogether I important reason for establishing this club, was the more frivolous one of giving them a chance to indulge in barmless gossip over the cup of tea which is a woman's substitute for the cigar and glass of wine which men find necessary to be sociable, and whether she is a seriousminded doctor or a society woman she delights in her cup of tea and the friendly intercourse it brings. That the progress of women in the medical profession is continuous is attested by the increasing number of women physicians and their growing success, iu spite of the fact that they have to coutend with a lack of faith in their skill and judgrnentsimply because they are women. The city of Chicago, with the suburbs, claims 250 women doctors, and many of those among the yotinger women are fitted to be surgeons. Dr. Gertrude Gail Wellington, who is a gradúate of the Women's Medical college of the New York inflrmary, was the first president of the club and has ably served her term of one year. Besides the usual number of ruling ofíicers there is a buard of councilors, to whom all questions in regard to the ethics of the medical profession are referred. Duriug oue year thG club has given a nnmber of entertainments and receptions, besides several banqueta at the Auditorium hotel, to which men in the profession were iuvited. Aside from the social part, the women have done some good work in municipal reforma. By sóliciting the aid of the press, and their own combined efforts, they succeeded in preventing the proposed abolishment of milk inspectora, and petitioned the city council to consider the necessity of a smallpox hospital, which was finally built. The disposition of garbage and the best methods for removing it is another subject which has received their attention. Dr. Wellington bas taken great interest in the punishment of boys between 12 and 17, who are now sent to prison, where they assoeiate with other crimináis, and recommends the establishment of a sehool for them where they can be taught according tu their special needs, and that they be sent to an asylum where ibey can have a docfor's care rather than to the penitcntiary. The "pet scheme" which absorba some of the attention of the club jnst at present is to estnblït-h a fiee hospital in conuection with tho international Medical Mission institute, a college which gives both men and women a practical education in medicine. It will be interesting to watch the result of this concerted action among the medical women, as there certaiuly is a 'wide range of subjects which may come up for discussion and no limit to the good which is within

Article

Subjects
Ann Arbor Argus
Old News