DUNEDIN FABIAN SOCIETY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 11196, 19 August 1898, Page 3

DUNEDIN FABIAN SOCIETY.

A meeting of the Dunedin Fabian Society was held at the Zealandia Chambers, Dowling street, last night. Mr A. R. Barclay, vice-president, occupied the chair, and there was a very large attendance, the hall, indeed, being too small to hold all those who wished to gain admission,

Dr Emily H. Siedeberg gave an address on " Tho Medical Education of Women in Great Britain and Germany," in which she, speaking from experience, referred to the restrictions placed upon women in tho medical schools of those countries. Having been educated, she said, at the medical school of Dunedin, where men and women were placed on a footing of equality so fa\ as education went, she was struck with the various restraints placed on women in the medical schools of the old country. In London she was sorry to say that wc-men doctors were not looked upon favourably by the medieaJ profession, and, with one or two exceptions, sho was received coldly by all of those whom she visited. Women received theii lectures at the London School of Medicine for Women quite apart from the men, the courses here qualifying for the' degree of M.B. of the London University. Tho Royal College of Surgeons would not yet admit them to membership or fellowship. With regard to clinical teaching, women students were not admitted into any of the hospitals of London except' two —the Royal Free Hospital and the New Hospital for Women. She was cordially received at both these hospitals, and invited to attend several operations there. The quick, deft manner in which the women operated roused her admiration, the operations being conducted in every way equally as well as any sho had seen done by men. In Ireland the restrictions on women were almost nil. With the exception of Trinity College, all tho colleges and universities of Ireland admitted women freely, with'all* the'privileges which men enjoyed. -In Edinburgh there were two schools of medicine for women, in which women could obtain a complete medical education, apart from men. . In Glasgow a -complete education could also be obtained at Queen Margaret College. Tho examinations were the same for both sexes. In the clinical teaching, however, women were still severely handicapped by being excluded from all the wards with the exception of two. Only one small, and rather poor, operating theatre was open to '. worn en. Still another disadvantage that women had to put up with was in not being allowed to attend any of the clinics except that on skin diseases. In spite of the manifest drawbacks women were expected to pass the examinations at the same standard as the men. In Great Britain there were at least 15 medical institutions for women and children, besides the new hospital and the Royal' Free Hospital, officered wholly or partially by women. In Germany the education of women in all branches was behind that of the English-speaking countries— indeed, there were only four towns in Germany where State High Schools for girls existed. In Berlin, even after the various university authorities grant permission to women to attend the medical lectures, the lecturer himself- had full power to refuse— a power which was frequently exercised— and she herself had be'en refused admission to the surgical lectures and operations ty Professor Bergmann. The other professors she found courteous* enough, Professor Lassar being especially so The medical education of womon in Germany was in a very unsettled condition. A woman might commence a course there, and after'going on for a' year, or perhaps two. years, suddenly find herself before a professor who refused to ad mit her to his lectures. In conclusion, she advised women of New Zealand who intended studying medicine to take their full course here first, partly because the.y had the .advantage of full privileges, and partly because they could enjoy home comforts. At the e^d of the course, when it could be managed, she advised a trip to the old country in. order to widen tho experience. In the discussion which ensued upon the address, Messrs Burton, Gallaway, Baxter, Tait, Clark, Mallard, Hutchison, and the Chairman took part

A li early vote of thanks was subsequently accorded by acclamation, to; Dr Sicdebevg for her address.

During the discussion reference was mode to the exclusion of Miss Stella Henderson from the press gallery in the House of Representatives; and, on the motion of Mr Hutchison, seconded by ■Mr Clark, it was unanimously resolved —" That this meeting desires to express its astonishment at, and disapproval of, the action of. the majority of ths press representatives in excluding a woman reporter from the'press gallery in the House." ' '■•■■'.-' ■" ■■'

During the evening solos were contributed by Miss Lichtenstein and Mr Beck, and Miss Balsille played a piano .solo,, each of the performers.'being .cordially.-receiyed.: ,-.;■.