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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    They talk about the gentler sex Mankind in sickness tending, And o’er the patient’s couch their necks Solicitously bending ; But what avails solicitude In fever or in phthisic. If lovely woman ’s not imbued With one idea of physic ? Young ladies all, of every clime. Especially of Britain, Who wholly occupy your time In novels or in knitting, Whose highest skill is but to play. Sing, dance, or French to clack well, Reflect on the example, pray, Of excellent Miss Blackwell! Think, if you had a brother ill, A husband, or a lover, And could prescribe the draught or pill Whereby he might recover; How much more useful this would be. Oh, sister, wife, or daughter ! Than merely handing him beef-tea. Gruel, or toast-and-water. Ye bachelors about to wed In youth’s unthinking hey-day. Who look upon a furnish’d head As horrid for a lady, Who’d call a female doctor “ blue”; You’d spare your sneers, I rather Think, my young fellows, if you knew What physic costs a father ! How much more blest were married life To men of small condition, If every one could have his wife For family physician ; His nursery kept from ailments free. By proper regulation. And for advice his only fee A thankful salutation. For Doctrix Blackwell—that’s the way To dub in rightful gender— In her profession, ever may Prosperity attend her !
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