Pioneer work for women / by Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell.

  • Elizabeth Blackwell
Date:
[1914]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Pioneer work for women / by Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    that the pupils are much disappointed that I am not black, as they supposed all persons from America were! Aftei talking a little with her I took out my writing mateiials, and sat down to the table determining to pay a little visit across the water before going to rest in my new home ; but I had no sooner seated myself than Madame Charrier entered with a crowd of eleves, to know if I would pass the night in the salle d’accouchements, it being an optional matter the first night. Of course I expressed the utmost willingness. I put up my letter with a sigh, dressed my- self for duty, and accompanied an ancienne eleve (that is, one who has already studied a year, and who always has one or more of the nouvelles eleves under her care for initiation) to the room where the children are born. A large apron of coarse towelling was given me, with the injunction not to lose it, or I should have to pay three francs. It was a large upper room, rather dimly lighted, beds all round, a fire on the hearth, cupboards full of linen in the corners, heaps of shining copper and tin utensils, several rush-bottomed chairs and wooden tables, and in the centre a large wooden stand with sides, on which the little new-comers, tightly swathed and ticketed, are ranged side by side. In the course of the night we had the pleasure of arranging eight in this way, and the next morning when Madame Charrier made her appearance the cloth was removed and the sight shown with much triumph? It was really very droll. Each little shapeless red visage peeped from under a coarse peaked cap, on the front of which was a large label with the name and sex ; a black serge jacket with a white handkerchief pinned across, and a small blanket tightly folded round the rest of the body, completed the appearance of the little mummy. Their behaviour certainly realised Fourier’s supposition, for there was very little crying all the time they lay there together. There were four young French girls sitting up with me, besides the girl who makes the beds and does the roughest work. They were all pretty and pleasant, of no education except their studies in the institution ; but those had been evi- dently carefully attended to, and it sounded not a little droll to hear the scientific terms flowing so glibly from their laughing lips, which were busily employed in talk- ing nonsense all the time that their duties did not call