THE INDIAN MEDICAL GAZETTE.
184
WOMEN DOCTORS FOR INDIA.
brothers.
[July 1,
1882.
the enlightenan ojah,' family. concerning itself, among other praiseworthy objects, with the or napit, or kaviraj, or a compounder, or failed question of the best means of rendering medical aid student, or native doctor, or a University graduate, or "When a man's mother, wife, or to the denizens of Indian zenanas. It is taken for a European doctor. is be daughter ill, mostly seeks and secures the aid granted that there is great need of intelligent and which he is the in habit of resorting to for himself. medical skilled assistance for the ladies of the upper The the of their arguments middle native and employed in advocating the need of classes on "whom usages women doctors are somewhat one-sided and strained. there is a that hesitastrict seclusion ; society impose tion in calling in medical men to treat such ladies, For example, Dr. Frances Emzabeth Hoggan in the paper to which we have referred, points to the small more especially in delicate circumstances and diseases ; to public that women are thus compelled by the force of circum- proportion of women and children resorting The National
stances to
Indian Association is
suffer, perhaps
to
die,
for want of medical
advice and assistance ; and that this suffering and death great measure obviated were doctors of their own sex available. These positions are laid down with considerable emphasis and garnished with not a little sentiment. " The inarticulate cry of Indian women has at length found a voice. ' They call us to deliver their land from error's chain'?the chain of ignorance, of prejudice, of medical malpraxis, of disease, of death." Such is the exordium of Di-.Frances Elizabeth Hoggan's paper on this subject in the January number of the Journal of the Association. Two schemes have been proposed, one the importation of women doctors from Europe and America, and the would be in
other the education of doubt there is
a
women
doctors in
India.
No
physical suffering in the picture of excessive
great deal of
zenanas ; but we suspect that obstetric and uterine suffering has
It is notorious that native women, over
their confinements
been overdrawn. high and low, get
speedily
more
than their western sisters.
and with less
The management
suffering puerperal females and of newly-born children undoubtedly admits of reform, but this is a matter of of
social and domestic custom and of sanitation rather than of medicine. No doubt skilled advice might proCure
change of practice
wanted is servances
a
in particular cases, but what is reform of the traditions and obto these events, and an
general
relating
intelligent adapted to
midwives and nurses is best As regards uterine disorders secure this desirable end. and diseases, we are not at all sure that they are of frequent occurrence in Indian zenanas. But it is probable that in many if not most cases little or nothing class
of
is done for their relief.
in, and in
some
The dhai is
instances the
110
doubt called
family practitioner (native)
doctor in consultation.
the
European quite possible, though by no means proved, avoidable suffering in this respect would be 01* even
Still it is that much saved
by
skilled in the detection and treatment of maladies peculiar to her own sex. the ministrations of
a woman
As regards ordinary ailments zenana women, as far as our experience and information go, obtain the same aid iu their
sufferings
as
theirliugbandg,
fathers and
depends
The kind of aid
ment and
of the
resources
on
It may be
as an evidence of the need of women But how small is the proportion of men resorting to these institutions as compared with the aggregate of male sickness. The truth is, that our system of medicine has as yet become by no means
dispensaries
doctors.
universal among India; and as in
medical, than
pensaries medical
religious
women
not
conservative and timid more deterred from resorting to dismuch by hesitation to consult a
are
so
by preference
man as
of in
are
They
men.
universally sought by, natives and social matters, so
or
hakims and fear of
crowd.
a
for their When
own
kavirajs and
special
arrange-
days assigned for women, tbey come in larger numbers, and when sickness presses, as in time of epidemics, all timidity vanishes. Again, Mrs. Sarah Heckford, a lady practitioner of medicine, writing in the December number of the Journal, says: 11 It would be impossible in this paper to describe the terrible scenes I have witnessed owing to the want of ments
are
made
or
proper medical aid for native women." But exactly the same statement might be made regarding native men, more particularly in native states, of which Mrs. Heckford writes. Mrs. verse
to the
all classes of native of her
services,"
them ;
and
as a
Heckford's experience is addoctors. She " found
of women
success
women
but
by
no
anxious to avail themselves anxious to pay for
means
matter of fact her practice in
to have been
extremely limited,
zenanas
that she concludes "that the field of practice for medical is a very narrow one at present whatever it women may become." seems
Dr. F. E. Hogg an paper regarding the 20 to the East by the
some particulars in her missionary lady physicians sent " American Board of Foreign
gives
Missions." It appears that their
conspicuous
in
so
success
has been
more
establishing dispensaries than in visiting
zenanas, though cases are cited in which their aid was sought for this purpose. As regards the dispensaries,
it is not at all certain that similar institutions minis-
by a medical man would not be equally attractive if made exclusive. That women doctors would get abundant practice in India among women and children of the lower order seems pretty certain, but
tered to
July 1,
CURRENT MEDICAL TOPICS."
?'
1882.]
like the strong demand for their services in middle and high class zenanas which is represented to exist, actually exists has by no means been proved. that
anything
Yet
the
on
assumptions
"
First,
exists
amount of
disease
women ;
that in the
English who
are
preventible and secondly,
medical ladies allowed to
are
the
that
an enormous
among
majority only qualified
give assistance"
Indian of
cases
doctors
Dr. F. E. Hoggan
that the Indian Government should
actually proposes " There organize a public service of medical women. is but one way," she writes,of affording adequate medical relief to the
women
of India.
Government alone
create a new can do what is needed?that is to say, department and confer on the native women the price-
less boon of a public service of medical women throughout British India." This service is to be secular,
"organized by women, officered entirely by women, and responsible only to the Secretary of State for India or some other high official authority." It would not do to place these lady doctors under the control of medical
officers of the Indian service, because it would be undesirable to place women under military rule. This constitutes trhe extremest development of the movement. In a later number of the journal a native gentleman He criticizes this scheme and proposes another. recognizes the importance of the movement, but doubts its success.
" At present a foreign lady doctor, however skilful and however great an adept in her art, has at least a doubtful chance of success in zenana practise outside the capital and some important towns and stations." The people are too poor to pay for them.
They do not entertain a sufficient value for the lives confined within '? the unwholesome four-walled zenana." The scheme which he propounds is the education of native ladies as doctors for practice among their country women, These ladies would also be an instrument of conveying the fruits of civilization into zenanas. That a movement of this sort is seriously discussed would appear from Sir .Richard Garth's address on the occasion of distributing prizes at the Medical College. Is it feasible ? Have native ladies? as
society
is
now
constituted, sufficient physical
and
moral stamina for the work and position ? Would they in the present state of native society be admitted iuto zenanas ? Are the middle classes as a rule able tc afford a double set of medical attendants, male for the men, female for the women ? How and where are they to be educated ? Destined for exclusive practice among their own sex, are they to be taught medicine as men
practice among both sexes, special schools and hospitals ? These are difficult questions, andean only be answered as yet on more or less a priori grounds. We have not touched on the question of the physical, mental and
are or
taught
in
a
with
modified
a
view to
manner
in
raor.il fitness medicine. it
seems
of
185 for
women
We have
studying
and
unnecessary to
practising
views on this point, but state them in this connection.
our own
thing is undoubted ; experience has amply proved it. Women are physically, mentally and morally fitted for the profession of nursing. ]\lucli good has already been achieved by systematically educating native women in this line. It is possible that by gradually developing this system of education and training, and imparting to women undergoing training as nurses some theoretical knowledge of mediOne
cine and the diseases to which women and children the end in view may
specially subject, attained
by
safer and
surer
steps
than
are
eventually
be
by lancliing
at
social experiment of doubtful promise Dr. F. E. Hoggan's paper manifests what we consider to be quite the most objectionable feature of the once
into
a
_
system of female medical education, namely an rivalry with and absolute independence of men. The movement if founded on a development of education in nursing, would retain what we are inclined to consider a safe and sound element, to an acwhole
assertion of
wit,
knowledgment of
men
of the
for medical
general superiority
study
and
practice.
of the
capacity
Well trained
know when to call in the doctor, and do not hesitate to advise it, and if women are to help men in ministering to the siclc, it would best accord with the established ordination of nature and if nurses
they
were
to
society position of helpmates rather of equals and rivals.
take
than the attitude
the
c
184
WOMEN DOCTORS FOR INDIA.
brothers.
[July 1,
1882.
the enlightenan ojah,' family. concerning itself, among other praiseworthy objects, with the or napit, or kaviraj, or a compounder, or failed question of the best means of rendering medical aid student, or native doctor, or a University graduate, or "When a man's mother, wife, or to the denizens of Indian zenanas. It is taken for a European doctor. is be daughter ill, mostly seeks and secures the aid granted that there is great need of intelligent and which he is the in habit of resorting to for himself. medical skilled assistance for the ladies of the upper The the of their arguments middle native and employed in advocating the need of classes on "whom usages women doctors are somewhat one-sided and strained. there is a that hesitastrict seclusion ; society impose tion in calling in medical men to treat such ladies, For example, Dr. Frances Emzabeth Hoggan in the paper to which we have referred, points to the small more especially in delicate circumstances and diseases ; to public that women are thus compelled by the force of circum- proportion of women and children resorting The National
stances to
Indian Association is
suffer, perhaps
to
die,
for want of medical
advice and assistance ; and that this suffering and death great measure obviated were doctors of their own sex available. These positions are laid down with considerable emphasis and garnished with not a little sentiment. " The inarticulate cry of Indian women has at length found a voice. ' They call us to deliver their land from error's chain'?the chain of ignorance, of prejudice, of medical malpraxis, of disease, of death." Such is the exordium of Di-.Frances Elizabeth Hoggan's paper on this subject in the January number of the Journal of the Association. Two schemes have been proposed, one the importation of women doctors from Europe and America, and the would be in
other the education of doubt there is
a
women
doctors in
India.
No
physical suffering in the picture of excessive
great deal of
zenanas ; but we suspect that obstetric and uterine suffering has
It is notorious that native women, over
their confinements
been overdrawn. high and low, get
speedily
more
than their western sisters.
and with less
The management
suffering puerperal females and of newly-born children undoubtedly admits of reform, but this is a matter of of
social and domestic custom and of sanitation rather than of medicine. No doubt skilled advice might proCure
change of practice
wanted is servances
a
in particular cases, but what is reform of the traditions and obto these events, and an
general
relating
intelligent adapted to
midwives and nurses is best As regards uterine disorders secure this desirable end. and diseases, we are not at all sure that they are of frequent occurrence in Indian zenanas. But it is probable that in many if not most cases little or nothing class
of
is done for their relief.
in, and in
some
The dhai is
instances the
110
doubt called
family practitioner (native)
doctor in consultation.
the
European quite possible, though by no means proved, avoidable suffering in this respect would be 01* even
Still it is that much saved
by
skilled in the detection and treatment of maladies peculiar to her own sex. the ministrations of
a woman
As regards ordinary ailments zenana women, as far as our experience and information go, obtain the same aid iu their
sufferings
as
theirliugbandg,
fathers and
depends
The kind of aid
ment and
of the
resources
on
It may be
as an evidence of the need of women But how small is the proportion of men resorting to these institutions as compared with the aggregate of male sickness. The truth is, that our system of medicine has as yet become by no means
dispensaries
doctors.
universal among India; and as in
medical, than
pensaries medical
religious
women
not
conservative and timid more deterred from resorting to dismuch by hesitation to consult a
are
so
by preference
man as
of in
are
They
men.
universally sought by, natives and social matters, so
or
hakims and fear of
crowd.
a
for their When
own
kavirajs and
special
arrange-
days assigned for women, tbey come in larger numbers, and when sickness presses, as in time of epidemics, all timidity vanishes. Again, Mrs. Sarah Heckford, a lady practitioner of medicine, writing in the December number of the Journal, says: 11 It would be impossible in this paper to describe the terrible scenes I have witnessed owing to the want of ments
are
made
or
proper medical aid for native women." But exactly the same statement might be made regarding native men, more particularly in native states, of which Mrs. Heckford writes. Mrs. verse
to the
all classes of native of her
services,"
them ;
and
as a
Heckford's experience is addoctors. She " found
of women
success
women
but
by
no
anxious to avail themselves anxious to pay for
means
matter of fact her practice in
to have been
extremely limited,
zenanas
that she concludes "that the field of practice for medical is a very narrow one at present whatever it women may become." seems
Dr. F. E. Hogg an paper regarding the 20 to the East by the
some particulars in her missionary lady physicians sent " American Board of Foreign
gives
Missions." It appears that their
conspicuous
in
so
success
has been
more
establishing dispensaries than in visiting
zenanas, though cases are cited in which their aid was sought for this purpose. As regards the dispensaries,
it is not at all certain that similar institutions minis-
by a medical man would not be equally attractive if made exclusive. That women doctors would get abundant practice in India among women and children of the lower order seems pretty certain, but
tered to
July 1,
CURRENT MEDICAL TOPICS."
?'
1882.]
like the strong demand for their services in middle and high class zenanas which is represented to exist, actually exists has by no means been proved. that
anything
Yet
the
on
assumptions
"
First,
exists
amount of
disease
women ;
that in the
English who
are
preventible and secondly,
medical ladies allowed to
are
the
that
an enormous
among
majority only qualified
give assistance"
Indian of
cases
doctors
Dr. F. E. Hoggan
that the Indian Government should
actually proposes " There organize a public service of medical women. is but one way," she writes,of affording adequate medical relief to the
women
of India.
Government alone
create a new can do what is needed?that is to say, department and confer on the native women the price-
less boon of a public service of medical women throughout British India." This service is to be secular,
"organized by women, officered entirely by women, and responsible only to the Secretary of State for India or some other high official authority." It would not do to place these lady doctors under the control of medical
officers of the Indian service, because it would be undesirable to place women under military rule. This constitutes trhe extremest development of the movement. In a later number of the journal a native gentleman He criticizes this scheme and proposes another. recognizes the importance of the movement, but doubts its success.
" At present a foreign lady doctor, however skilful and however great an adept in her art, has at least a doubtful chance of success in zenana practise outside the capital and some important towns and stations." The people are too poor to pay for them.
They do not entertain a sufficient value for the lives confined within '? the unwholesome four-walled zenana." The scheme which he propounds is the education of native ladies as doctors for practice among their country women, These ladies would also be an instrument of conveying the fruits of civilization into zenanas. That a movement of this sort is seriously discussed would appear from Sir .Richard Garth's address on the occasion of distributing prizes at the Medical College. Is it feasible ? Have native ladies? as
society
is
now
constituted, sufficient physical
and
moral stamina for the work and position ? Would they in the present state of native society be admitted iuto zenanas ? Are the middle classes as a rule able tc afford a double set of medical attendants, male for the men, female for the women ? How and where are they to be educated ? Destined for exclusive practice among their own sex, are they to be taught medicine as men
practice among both sexes, special schools and hospitals ? These are difficult questions, andean only be answered as yet on more or less a priori grounds. We have not touched on the question of the physical, mental and
are or
taught
in
a
with
modified
a
view to
manner
in
raor.il fitness medicine. it
seems
of
185 for
women
We have
studying
and
unnecessary to
practising
views on this point, but state them in this connection.
our own
thing is undoubted ; experience has amply proved it. Women are physically, mentally and morally fitted for the profession of nursing. ]\lucli good has already been achieved by systematically educating native women in this line. It is possible that by gradually developing this system of education and training, and imparting to women undergoing training as nurses some theoretical knowledge of mediOne
cine and the diseases to which women and children the end in view may
specially subject, attained
by
safer and
surer
steps
than
are
eventually
be
by lancliing
at
social experiment of doubtful promise Dr. F. E. Hoggan's paper manifests what we consider to be quite the most objectionable feature of the once
into
a
_
system of female medical education, namely an rivalry with and absolute independence of men. The movement if founded on a development of education in nursing, would retain what we are inclined to consider a safe and sound element, to an acwhole
assertion of
wit,
knowledgment of
men
of the
for medical
general superiority
study
and
practice.
of the
capacity
Well trained
know when to call in the doctor, and do not hesitate to advise it, and if women are to help men in ministering to the siclc, it would best accord with the established ordination of nature and if nurses
they
were
to
society position of helpmates rather of equals and rivals.
take
than the attitude
the
c
