WOMEN IN MEDICINE.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 307, 27 December 1924, Page 22

WOMEN IN MEDICINE.

For some time the daily press in London has been made the medium of a continual series of suggestions that too many women are entering—or have entered —the medical profession, states "Time and Tide": that there is not work for them; that they are beginning to realise their mistake; that parents are beginning to doubt the wisdom of entering their daughters for the profusion, and so on and so forth, all tending to discourage women from entering tlie profession of medicine. This type of remark lms nuisl frequently emanated from the '•Times" medical correspondent, who seems to have a peculiar dislike of women in medicine, but it has al-o heon noticeable in a number of other papers. The "Evening Standard," for instance, which ha« never lost an opportunity of writing In (his sense, recently puhlMied an interview with the secretary of the British Medical Association, in which that official was made categorically to assert: "There are too many women doctors/ The tiling has been done in so continuous, so widespread a fashion as to amount to a Press campaign, and it is, in fact, difficult to believe that there is not conscious plan at work, some little group of medical practitioners deliberately out to do what they can to prevent the further invasion of the medical profession by women. In fact, the suggestion that there are too man)' women in medicine comes perilously near to deliberate falsehood. It may possibly be true to say that (he medical profession as a whole is overstocked, but when we consider that of the 48,000 qualified practitioners on the register less than 3000 are women, it becomes almost absurd to suggest that there is too great a proportion of women. And it is, as a matter of fact, generally admitted by those in a position to know, that medical women today find it easier to obtain work than do medical men. The reasons for suggestions to the contrary are, however, not far to seek. In addition to the almost patholoaial sex antagonism displayed by such men as Sir Almroth Wright, with whom a dislike of the professional woman L? something of an obsession, and who is said to be largely responsible for the attempt to turn women out of St. Mary's Hospital, there is the natural fear of the younger men for a new and potentially serious economic rival. Before the war medical women were so new and so few that it was possible to disregard them, to-day it is being recognised that they have come to stay, and not only to stay, to increase; hence the determined last light of the reactionaries against them. So long as the present attempt to circumscribe their opportunities continues and so many hospitals refuse, to open their doors to them, those who are interested in their 'success in this great profession will be well advised to subscribe only either to the pioneer London School of Medicine for Womeii or to one of the hospitals to which a co-educational school is attached. WHAT ENGLAND PREFERS. It is comforting to be able to quote from a reliable English fashion journal that "the severely tailored suit has once more forged its way into the front ranks of fashion, aud has been accepted by practically every smart woman in the country with heartfelt thanks." Xo type of dress that we have ever worn has given such satisfaction to its wearers as the tailor-made costume. It is built for hard, serviceable wear, and yet it gives an air of trimness and neatness to its wearers that seems peculiarly appropriate in winter time. There are very few women, too, whom it does not suit. Tailors are clever in choosing lines that are becoming to the special figure to be fitted, and very expert in concealing the ugly points by means of clever cutting of the coats and skilful fitting. So the "bulky" woman sees herself at her best in a suit that has no excess of material anywhere, yet is easy and comfortable to walk in; whilst the slender woman realises that a firm material, well cut, and hanging admirably, conceals angularities even more effectively than draperies do. There is always a clean-cut business-like air about the woman who wears a good tailor-made suit, . and girls who work for their living and recognise the value of being able to achieve that effect will welcome heartily the return to favour of thia type of dress. The "tailor-made" will not, of course, reign alone. Its chief rival, in England, is the jumper suit, cut on very simple lines. This style of dress is, however, essentially youthful in appearance, so that it cannot become universally popular. Both coats and skirt and jumper suits, however, will have rather a severe appearance, their trimming boing restricted to bindings of braid or ribbon and to buttons in long lines. White collars, and rovers, and cuffs, removable for washing, may also be worn with more elaborate suits, especially when the costume is a black one. I But they are out of place in tweed [suits. For wear with the tweed suits for the English spring and summer some type of waistcoat is the newest form nf "Irint." Jumpers knitted or woven in patterns are still permissible in cold weather, but the waistcoat of plain or i patterned material is much more popular. Most of these waistcoats are double-breasted, but some of them fasten down the centre front with a row of small buttons. For the more elaborate costume the waistcoat may be made with a collar to overlap the coat collar. With the waistcoat goes, in almost every case, a crepe de chine or other soft silk scarf or kerchief woven or printed in brilliant colours. This is sometimes worn round the neck and tied in front with a looped effect, the ends being tucked inside the coat. ! Sometimes it is folded and arranged to show inside the collar and down each side of the coat front. With a jumper suit the kerchief may l>e arranged ti show inside the collar and down each side of the coat front. With a jumper <uit the kerchief may lie arranged like a s-liawl collar, and tied rather low down i:i front with a pretty knot. The kerchief fashion is a passing vogue, of course, but Knglisli women seem t:> be making tin , most of it. 1 House flies may effectually be destroyed jby mixing half a spoonful of powdered ! black pepper, a teaspoonful of brown sugar, and a teaspoonful of cream. Place the mixture in a room where the flics are troublesome. Cleaning a Gas Oven.—Make a strong solution of hot water and potash. Dip a rag in the mixture and rub it well over all parts of the oven, taking care to work it into all the crevices Leave overnight, and in the morning wash off with very hot water. The potash solution will have removed all grease, and the oven will be perfectly clean and free from stains.