THE DOCTOR’S SECRET

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 December 1929, Page 3

THE DOCTOR’S SECRET

WOMAN’S AMAZING DECEPTION. During the past 12 mouthy thp world has been astounded by the masquorades x of women in the guise of itmp, but their exploits have been eclipsed by another English Woman, Dr. Mayfield, who has just died at th© age of 83 at Mena, Arkansas, U.S.A. Foi’ over 70 years she successfully posed as a man, earning a great reputation as a surgeon and becoming widely known as one of the most skilful doctors in the States. Ever since she was a child Dr. Mayfield had worn male clothes, and so usgd tq them was she that whpn, owing to an illness which necessitated the calling in of medical assistance, the secret of her sex became known, she point-blank refused to don feminine attire, and continued to live as a map affer her recovery and carry on with her profession as far as was possible in her declining years. In her will, too, she insisted that she be buried in man’s clothes, and that her topib should be engraved with the name “Victor Mayfield,” by which she had been known all her Jif.e. A story is told that, many years ago, she married a woman in Ohio, and that, fearing her sex might eventually be discovered, she deserted her “wife,” who afterward obtained a divorce against her. Whether that be so or not, it is certain that she had many romances in her time.

The illness from which she has just died came on last winter as the result of an act of kindness for which she was noted. A little child had been run over by a car and had been taken to a local nursing home, where it screamed for Dr. Mayfield, and would not let any other’ doctor attend it. When the doctor arrived on the scene she found several bad fractures which needed careful handling owing to inflammation, and it was some hours before’she could get away. In the meantime a violent storm had come on and Dr. Mayfield was soaked to the skin. She contracted such a bad cold that she had to engage an assistant to help her witli her patients. At length she had to take to her bed, and it was while she was in the throes of delirium that she gave some inkling of the real position of things as regards her spx. The assistant had been in daily attendance upon her and could not fail to observe the reluctance with which the doctor permitted him to be in the room. Tall and spare, with straight white hair that was not the least bit feminjpe in appearance, the lines of the face were also very masculine, while the square, rather strong hands gave no indication that she was other than the man she pretended to be. She told her assistant that she would look after herself, and it was not until she was delirious and he had forcibly to restrain her from roving the room that he learned the secret which she had kept hidden from mankind for over 70 years. i The news created a tremendous sensation, for not since* tlie historic case, of Dr. James Barry' thp woman who Ijyed to become one of the most famous Army surgeons the world has ever known, had tjie like been heard. Tales were numerous of how this amazing woman had braved all sorts of weathers to gp out and attend cases at all times of night and day—how she had carried out the most daring surge cal operations in the face of the opinions of other eminent surgeons, and carried them out successfully. Of course, inquiries were at oppe made to find, out whether she had' indeed the requisite medical anc| surgical degress, and there was not the least doubt about that. It was obvious that when she was studying for her examinations she must have mixed quite freely with young men students, who never suspected for a moment that there was a woman in their midst. She herself told the story of how during those student days she found herself falling in love with one of the ipen with whom she was mixing daily, and how she had the greatest difficulty in smothering her feelings so that she should not reveal her sex.

For a time she practised in Philadelphia, and it was there that' she performed one operation Which brought her a certain aihount of fame.! It was in connection with the wife of a prominent Philadelphian business man who had suffered from a complaint which baffled some of the finest physicians .and surgeons. As a fast resource, Dr. Mayfield was called in, and “he” diagnosed the trouble qs P growth which needed instant removal, “He” performed the operation, apd it turned out quite successfully. “His” diagnosis was proved to have been correct, and “he” was hailed as a “coming man” by the American medical journals. Naturally the distracted husband was grateful to the doctor, apd a friendship ensued. The doctor wag a frequent visitor to the house until, he began to x notice that the wife was beginning to display signs that there was something more than gratitude ip the affection which she felt for “him-” It was then that the doctor threw up her practice and went to Mena, where she continued' her good work. It was from Dr. Mayfield herself that the explanation of her masquerade ' came. Born in England of a Midland family, she was about eight years of age wpep it became known that certain property had been left to the family. Unfortunately, there were no sons to help to maintain the rights of thejr particular branch, and so it was that the rather boyish girl was turned into a boy by the simple process of dregsing her in male .clothes. It was thus she turned into & “boy” on the way tq the States, and remained a “boy” uptif her illness, which has now ended in her depth.