Page:Elizabeth Blackwell obituary BMJ 1910.djvu/2

1524 dean of the school, the late Sir James Paget, and the Maternity Hospital at Paris. While at the latter she had an unfortunate accident, losing the sight of one eye, which became infected while she was treating a patient with gonorrhoea. This put an end to her hopes of figuring in surgery rather than in medicine.

On returning to the United States she began to practice in partnership with one of her sisters, eventually establishing a dispensary out of which grew the New York Infirmary for Women. She also gave lectures to women on the laws of life in reference to the physical education of girls. In 1859 she paid a further visit to England, during which she lectured on medicine as a profession for women. Among one of her audiences was Miss Garrett, now Mrs. Garrett-Anderson, who shortly afterwards began, in her turn, the study of medicine, qualifying as the first woman doctor of English education in 1865. Just before her return to America it was suggested to Miss Blackwell that she should get her name inscribed in the recently instituted Medical Register, and but for this almost accidental circumstance she might not have spent the last forty years of her existence in this country. She only returned to it after some eight years' further work in America, during which she played an active part in the organization of women’s nursing during the civil war. One outcome of this work was the establishment of a medical school for women in which Miss Blackwell, who, in her visits to England, had come under the influence of Miss Nightingale, held the Chair of Hygiene.

When she finally settled in England she continued to co-operate in the movement which has since led to the frank recognition of the medical profession as a proper sphere for women, and to the establishment, as we recently pointed out, of as many as 476 registered medical women in practice in England alone.

For a long time Dr. Blackwell carried on an active practice partly in London, partly in Hastings. Of late years she had not been seen much in London, but she was always certain to be acclaimed at the London (R. F. H.) School of Medicine for Women, where at one time she lectured on gynaecology. She also held, up to the time of her death, a position on the consulting staff of the New Hospital for Women. She was the author of a good many publications; among the more important being The Laws of Life in Relation to the Physical Education of Girls, The Human Element in Sex, The Religion of Health, and The Moral Education of the Young in Relation to Sex in Medical and Social Aspects.

There are two points never to be forgotten in speaking of Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell: one is that, although much of her life was passed in America, she did not go to that country until she was 11 years old, and always regarded herself as English. The second is that, although never married, she was, and ever remained, one of the most womanly of women. It was, indeed, her womanly character, coupled with her intense earnestness, which mainly enabled her to overcome the difficulties in her path, and won for her personally, if not for her ambitions in respect of women as a whole, the esteem and good wishes of all possible opponents. Although she appears to have turned to medicine with some reluctance in the first place, she soon acquired a belief that she had a definite "call," and retained this belief to the end.

The interment took place at Kilmun, and the funeral service was attended by representatives of various medical and other societies connected with the work in which Dr. Blackwell took so prominent a part. 

, of Wakefield, died on May 22nd. after an illness extending over six months. He had recently undergone a serious operation which, however, failed to eradicate the disease. Dr. Henderson, who was in his 54th year, graduated B.A. in the Royal University of Ireland in 1878, and M.A. in 1882; he studied medicine in the University of Edinburgh, and in 1888 received the degrees of M.B. and C.M. from that University. In 1893 he took the diploma of D.P.H. Cambridge. He was engaged in practice in Wakefield for many years, and took a keen interest in public affairs, serving for some time on the Wakefield City Council and its Education Committee; recently he had been made a Governor of the Educational Charities.

 death occurred on May 22nd of Dr., of Bath, one of the oldest members of the medical profession in the West of England. He became M.R.C.S. in 1849, and L.S.A. in 1850. He first went to Bath as Resident Medical Officer of the Mineral Water Hospital. He retired from practice a good many years ago, but remained physically and mentally strong until comparatively recently.

, of Helensburgh, died on May 25th, in his 75th year. He was the son of a Glasgow merchant, and received his training in the University of Glasgow. After being in practice in Stranraer for a time he removed, about the year 1862, to Helensburgh. For over twenty years he was parish doctor under Row Parochial Board, but he resigned this position about sixteen years ago. Some ten or twelve years ago he retired from active practice. Dr. Finlay was widely read, and to the end was a diligent student of the classics. For some years before his death he interested himself in farming. Dr. Finlay leaves a widow. His only surviving brother, Dr. David Finlay, is Professor of the Practice of Medicine in Aberdeen University. 

 death is announced of Dr., one of the best known practitioners in the city of Glasgow. He had been in failing health for some time, and had been laid aside from duty for about three months. He was born in Nova Scotia, where his father, a Scotsman and an M.D. of Glasgow, was in practice. The father sent his son to Glasgow and apprenticed him to a firm of engineers, but the young man’s proclivities towards medicine were too strong; he entered the medical faculty of Glasgow University, and graduated M.B., C.M., in 1874. For thirty-two years he was parochial medical officer, first of the Barony Board, and after the amalgamation of the Barony and City Parochial Boards, of the Glasgow Parish Council. He acquired an extensive private practice, and was much respected as a practitioner and as a man. He took a keen interest in the Volunteers and attained the rank of Surgeon Lieutenant-Colonel to the Glasgow Highlanders, a corps which he joined in 1878; some time ago he received the long service medal. In his younger days he was a notable swimmer and skater. Dr. Cowie was a most honourable man, and had a high standard of medical conduct; he was a genial and sympathetic companion, an excellent teller of stories, and on several medical questions expressed his views in vigorous verse. Dr. Cowie, who was about 60 years of age, leaves a widow and one daughter. 

Two more Crimean veterans have passed away, in the persons of Deputy Surgeon-General, M.B. late of the Indian Medical Service, who died in London on April 10th, and of Surgeon-Major , retired Army Medical Department, who died on April 8th. Deputy Surgeon-General Ross joined the Madras Medical Department as an Assistant Surgeon, January 29th, 1857, and became Deputy Surgeon-General June 16th, 1885, in which year he retired from the service. During the Crimean campaign in 1854–5 he served in the Royal Navy in the operations in the Black Sea, and was at the siege and fall of Sebastopol and at the capture of Kertch and Kinburn, receiving a medal with clasp and the Turkish medal. He had also a medal for the Indian Mutiny campaign in 1857–60, during which he was present at the affair of Poon Poon River. Surgeon-Major Miller entered the Army Medical Service, March 28th, 1854, and retired therefrom in 1875. In the Crimea he was present at the battles of the Alma and Inkerman and at the siege and fall of Sebastopol. He was granted a medal with three clasps, the Turkish medal, and the 5th Class of the Order of the Medjidie. 

, M.R.C.S., died at Southsea, on June 12th, in his 78th year. He was a son of the late Rev. G. S. Faught, Rector of Bradfield St. Clare, Suffolk; was educated at King William’s College, Isle of Man, and entered the Army Medical Department as an Assistant Surgeon, January 5th,