THE INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE.
?4
VERNACULAR EDUCATION IN MIDWIFERY. The desirability of giving instruction to of
European system
midwifery
"
for'carrying greatest is
out the
receive instruction upon this from teachers of the opposite sex. This feeling is one
natural unwillingness of women from which
probably
even
to
the best educated and most
liberally-
and which is
particularly
strong among unlearned persons of the lower orders.
This must
minded women
are
not
altogether free,
case among dhyes," who, especially although nearly as ignorant as their neighbours, are perfectly satisfied with their attainments in midwifery, and look upon any attempt to instruct them in their own profession as an unwarrantable interference with their "divine right." In Calcutta, indeed, old prejudices have been so far broken down, and the advantages of scientific education in other branches of medicine have been so generally recognised, that a few "dhyes" condescend to study in the Obstetric "Wards of the Medical College Hospital. Jyepoor has hitherto boasted of a well-conducted Maternity Institution, and in some cases Civil Surgeons have succeeded iu getting up a class for the oral instruction of "dhyes." As far as we know, however, no effort has till very lately been made to carry out this object by female teachers, and it is therefore with great pleasure that we learn that this is now being done in the Punjab. At Amritsar a School of Midwifery, with a small lying-in-hospital attached to it, has been established, under the management of a lady who studied in, and holds the diploma of, one of the most celebrated Obstetric Hospitals in the British Islands. The Municipal Committee of Amritsar have granted Us. 100 monthly for the support of the institution. There is an out-door dispensary connected with the institution, at which, since it was opened (on 1st December, 1867), 52 female patients have been treated. Of this number the majority were suffering
be
the
more
a
from uterine disease of
some
class like the
form
or
other.
"
There
are
now
Of these there are two Musal-
pupils studying midwifery. manis, four Hindoos, and one Christian. Three of these pupils belong to other zillahs, from the local or municipal funds of which they are supported. Each pupil receives lis. 5 a month. This is to be increased to lis, 8 after two years' study, at the end of which time the pupil is to pass an exami-
seven
nation and to obtain
a
Lectures
certificate to that effect.
delivered three times
on
in the
Midwifery vernacular, week, by the Superintendent, and are read out to the class on the alternate days by one of themselves, until they have thoroughly mastered the subject. The pupils also attend the better class where of patients in their own homes, their services Should the cases so attended by are already in much request. them prove tedious or complicated, the Superintendent is called iu by them. As yet the work done by the institution has been almost entirely confined to tbe treatment of out-door patients, and of patients in their own homes; but, as soon as the objects of the hospital are better known, ve have little doubt that many of the lower,orders will gladly avail themselves of it. The scheme is only in its infancy; but, considering the number of prejudices to be overcome, it appears to have worked well so far, and we trust that it will meet with the success are
which it
so
sive class of
well deserved. "
lady doctors,"
We nor
a
arc
no
for the
advocates fcr
practice
an
exten-
of medicine in
1SG8.
by women, saving in exceptional cases. Few fitted, either by physical constitution, or by previous education, to discbarge tbe arduous, and in many cases painful or even revolting, duties which fall more or less to tbe lot of every medical man. "We should even object to see the midwife*, however well educated, altogether supersede the accoucheur.
its full
the
lias been often discussed in tbese
The difficulties which beset any scheme this object are many and great, and one of the
pages.
subject
on
dhyes"
[Marcii 2,
extent
women arc
There
is, however,
a
wide field in which many women who
are
idling away their lives, without duties or objects to occupy them, might make themselves useful to the sick, without at all clashing with medical men. This is now fully recognised in England, wheie associations for the nursing of the sick, and for similar objects, are now numerous. A very important portion of the same field has now been entered upon at Amritsar, namely, the imparting professional education to those who, whether ignorant or not, will for a very long time be the only obstetric practitioners employed by the majority of persons in India. As these people will not receive instruction from teachersof the opposite sex, we should feel very grateful to the lady who has taken upon herself the onerous duty of educating them. She must expect to meat with much discouragement at first; and although we understand that the regular "dhyes," so far from obstructing her, have, in several cases, asked permission to attend her lectures, yet, when their practice begins to be shared, by those whom she lias educated, they will probably begin to fight for their own vested interests. We trust, however,
now
that she will persevere in her efforts. Even should the influence of the school never extend beyond the walls, it may effect a vast amount of good in such a city as Amritsar, the richest
populous in Northern India. Although the scheme under consideration has nothing directly missionary in its character, the lady who has taken charge of it is, we need hardly say, connected with a Christian Mission. At
and most
Delhi, where, is
as we
announced last year,
a
female Medical Mis-
already at work, the establishment of a similar institution is contemplated. However the religious or political opinions of our readers may differ from those of these ladies, we are certain that every member of our profession will wish them God-speed in this portion of their work.
sionary
?4
VERNACULAR EDUCATION IN MIDWIFERY. The desirability of giving instruction to of
European system
midwifery
"
for'carrying greatest is
out the
receive instruction upon this from teachers of the opposite sex. This feeling is one
natural unwillingness of women from which
probably
even
to
the best educated and most
liberally-
and which is
particularly
strong among unlearned persons of the lower orders.
This must
minded women
are
not
altogether free,
case among dhyes," who, especially although nearly as ignorant as their neighbours, are perfectly satisfied with their attainments in midwifery, and look upon any attempt to instruct them in their own profession as an unwarrantable interference with their "divine right." In Calcutta, indeed, old prejudices have been so far broken down, and the advantages of scientific education in other branches of medicine have been so generally recognised, that a few "dhyes" condescend to study in the Obstetric "Wards of the Medical College Hospital. Jyepoor has hitherto boasted of a well-conducted Maternity Institution, and in some cases Civil Surgeons have succeeded iu getting up a class for the oral instruction of "dhyes." As far as we know, however, no effort has till very lately been made to carry out this object by female teachers, and it is therefore with great pleasure that we learn that this is now being done in the Punjab. At Amritsar a School of Midwifery, with a small lying-in-hospital attached to it, has been established, under the management of a lady who studied in, and holds the diploma of, one of the most celebrated Obstetric Hospitals in the British Islands. The Municipal Committee of Amritsar have granted Us. 100 monthly for the support of the institution. There is an out-door dispensary connected with the institution, at which, since it was opened (on 1st December, 1867), 52 female patients have been treated. Of this number the majority were suffering
be
the
more
a
from uterine disease of
some
class like the
form
or
other.
"
There
are
now
Of these there are two Musal-
pupils studying midwifery. manis, four Hindoos, and one Christian. Three of these pupils belong to other zillahs, from the local or municipal funds of which they are supported. Each pupil receives lis. 5 a month. This is to be increased to lis, 8 after two years' study, at the end of which time the pupil is to pass an exami-
seven
nation and to obtain
a
Lectures
certificate to that effect.
delivered three times
on
in the
Midwifery vernacular, week, by the Superintendent, and are read out to the class on the alternate days by one of themselves, until they have thoroughly mastered the subject. The pupils also attend the better class where of patients in their own homes, their services Should the cases so attended by are already in much request. them prove tedious or complicated, the Superintendent is called iu by them. As yet the work done by the institution has been almost entirely confined to tbe treatment of out-door patients, and of patients in their own homes; but, as soon as the objects of the hospital are better known, ve have little doubt that many of the lower,orders will gladly avail themselves of it. The scheme is only in its infancy; but, considering the number of prejudices to be overcome, it appears to have worked well so far, and we trust that it will meet with the success are
which it
so
sive class of
well deserved. "
lady doctors,"
We nor
a
arc
no
for the
advocates fcr
practice
an
exten-
of medicine in
1SG8.
by women, saving in exceptional cases. Few fitted, either by physical constitution, or by previous education, to discbarge tbe arduous, and in many cases painful or even revolting, duties which fall more or less to tbe lot of every medical man. "We should even object to see the midwife*, however well educated, altogether supersede the accoucheur.
its full
the
lias been often discussed in tbese
The difficulties which beset any scheme this object are many and great, and one of the
pages.
subject
on
dhyes"
[Marcii 2,
extent
women arc
There
is, however,
a
wide field in which many women who
are
idling away their lives, without duties or objects to occupy them, might make themselves useful to the sick, without at all clashing with medical men. This is now fully recognised in England, wheie associations for the nursing of the sick, and for similar objects, are now numerous. A very important portion of the same field has now been entered upon at Amritsar, namely, the imparting professional education to those who, whether ignorant or not, will for a very long time be the only obstetric practitioners employed by the majority of persons in India. As these people will not receive instruction from teachersof the opposite sex, we should feel very grateful to the lady who has taken upon herself the onerous duty of educating them. She must expect to meat with much discouragement at first; and although we understand that the regular "dhyes," so far from obstructing her, have, in several cases, asked permission to attend her lectures, yet, when their practice begins to be shared, by those whom she lias educated, they will probably begin to fight for their own vested interests. We trust, however,
now
that she will persevere in her efforts. Even should the influence of the school never extend beyond the walls, it may effect a vast amount of good in such a city as Amritsar, the richest
populous in Northern India. Although the scheme under consideration has nothing directly missionary in its character, the lady who has taken charge of it is, we need hardly say, connected with a Christian Mission. At
and most
Delhi, where, is
as we
announced last year,
a
female Medical Mis-
already at work, the establishment of a similar institution is contemplated. However the religious or political opinions of our readers may differ from those of these ladies, we are certain that every member of our profession will wish them God-speed in this portion of their work.
sionary
