The Life of Sophia Jex-Blake

CHAPTER VIII. The Riot At Surgeons’ Hall 285

THE RIOT AT SURGEONS’ HALL 285 Women begin study of anatomy—Apply for admission to Royal Infirmary—Opposition and support—The riot—Defence of women students by “Irish Brigade” and other friendly students—Great newspaper controversy—Annual Meeting of Royal Infirmary—Crowded audience—Removal to St. Giles’ Church—S. J.-B. speaks—The first woman since Jenny Geddes to speak in that place—Professor Christison’s protest and S. J.-B.’s retort— Hubbub—“Fighting with beasts at Ephesus”— Formation of “National Association.”

CHAPTER IX. The Action for Libel 306

THE ACTION FOR LIBEL 306 Dr. Christison’s assistant brings action for libel against S. J.-B.—Her brother’s support—She speaks at suffrage meeting in London—Makes acquaintance of Rt. Hon. James Stansfeld—The action for libel—Damages one farthing, but heavy costs—Criticisms of the verdict.

CHAPTER X. Some Friendships and Holidays 320

SOME FRIENDSHIPS AND HOLIDAYS 320 £1000 raised by public subscription to defray costs of action—S. J.-B. takes holiday in Paris— Commune—Visit of Dr. Lucy Sewall to England.

CHAPTER XI. The Question of Professional Examination 330

THE QUESTION OF PROFESSIONAL EXAMINATION 330 Continued practical difficulty in getting teaching and as to professional examination—Counsel’s opinion taken by both sides—Friendly professors and others—Women refused entrance to first professional examination, but in response to lawyer’s letter are admitted and pass—Move and countermove.

CHAPTER XII. The Royal Infirmary 340

THE ROYAL INFIRMARY 340 Marriage of several of the lady students— Continuance of struggle in Edinburgh together with enquiries as to chances elsewhere—Sympathy of Professor Sidgwick and Mr. James Stuart—Rev. Dr. Guthrie—Infirmary Annual Meeting again— Success of the Women’s party—“Ring out the old!”—Question of legality of votes of firms— Litigation—Success—S. J.-B. a public character.

CHAPTER XIII. The Action Against the Senatus 352

THE ACTION AGAINST THE SENATUS 352 Impasse—Friends and well-wishers advise appeal to Court of Law—University Court suggests that lady matriculated students should give up right to graduation and be content with certificates of proficiency—S. J.-B. and others bring Action of Declarator against Senatus to define position—Much searching of archives for evidence—Senatus decides to defend action, but six professors dissent.

CHAPTER XIV. The Lord Ordinary’s Judgment 362

THE LORD ORDINARY’S JUDGMENT 362 S. J.-B. lectures in London on the whole situation—Lord Shaftesbury in chair—Difference with Mrs. Butler—S. J.-B. publishes Medical Women—Lord Ordinary decides substantially in favour of women students—Widespread congratulations.

CHAPTER XV. Paying the Price 377

PAYING THE PRICE 377 Many claims, medical, legal, journalistic, etc., on S. J.-B.—Gift of £1000 from Mr. Walter Thomson—S. J.-B. is rejected in first professional examination—Newspaper interest and enquiries—Sympathy.

CHAPTER XVI. End of the Battle in Edinburgh 388

END OF THE BATTLE IN EDINBURGH 388 Interest of Rt. Hon. James Stansfeld—Introduces S. J.-B. to some of his colleagues in the Cabinet— S. J.-B. works hard and successfully for first election of women on Edinburgh School Board— University appeals against Lord Ordinary’s decision—Persevering efforts of all the women students to get on with their education somehow and somewhere—St. Andrews—Durham—Ireland— Edinburgh Court of Session (thirteen judges) decides by narrow majority in favour of University—The judgment of the Lord Justice Clerk.

CHAPTER XVII. The Question in Parliament 398

THE QUESTION IN PARLIAMENT 398 Increasing public and newspaper interest and criticism—Mrs. Anderson writes to Times, strongly advising women to study abroad and practise without registration—S. J.-B. replies— University censured in press—Apologia of Principal and S. J.-B.’s reply—Sir David Wedderburn’s notice of Bill to reduce vote to Scottish Universities by amount of salaries of Edinburgh professors withdrawn on hearing of Lord Ordinary’s judgment—S. J.-B. again interviews Home Secretary and members of Cabinet—Things looking well when Gladstone dissolves Parliament and appeals to country!—S. J.-B. interviews Mr. Russell Gurney and others— At Mr. Cowper Temple’s request she and her solicitor draft “A Bill to remove doubts as to the power of Scottish Universities”—She is summoned to London to discuss matter—Bill introduced and sixty-five petitions at once presented in its favour—Fails to get through—In debate on motion the two members for Edinburgh (Town and Gown) join issue.

CHAPTER XVIII. The London School of Medicine for Women 415

THE LONDON SCHOOL OF MEDICINE FOR WOMEN 415 Discussion in Parliament calls all latent opposition into play—S. J.-B.’s failure to pass examination used as weapon against the women—She questions justice of rejection—A great mistake— Reproaches—By advice of Dr. Anstie and Mr. Norton she founds the London School of Medicine for Women—Miss Irby’s visit to it.

CHAPTER XIX. The Russell Gurney Enabling Act 423

THE RUSSELL GURNEY ENABLING ACT 423 Difference between S. J.-B. and Mrs. Anderson, who nevertheless joins Council of School—Mr. Cowper Temple brings forward his Bill again, and, after defeat, brings forward a “Foreign Degrees Bill,” which is also defeated—Lord Sandon on behalf of Government admits importance of question—Mr. Simon suggests that women should qualify by means of examination in Midwifery only, as was then possible—This agreed to after legal enquiries, and the women students send in their names, but examiners resign—S. J.-B.’s longing to break away and do rough hospital work in Bosnia—Deputation to President of Privy Council— “Foreign Degrees Bill” again defeated, but Government intimate to Mr. Russell Gurney that he should bring in an “Enabling Bill”—Though late in session this passes and becomes law—Miss Pechey and Miss Shove induce Irish College to avail itself of ability conferred by new Act— The Woman Hater.

CHAPTER XX. At Last 436

AT LAST 436 S. J.-B. and Miss Pechey study and graduate at Berne, and obtain Licence of Irish College.

CHAPTER XXI THE ROYAL FREE HOSPITAL 441 Hospital training still refused to the women coming on—Mr. Stansfeld introduces S. J.-B. to Chairman of Royal Free Hospital, whom he has already interested in the matter—R.F.H. opened to women—Opening of London University to women— In organisation of London School for Women, S. J.-B. is set aside—Mrs. Thorne becomes Hon. Secretary—persona grata—Retrospect.

PART III

CHAPTER I. Early Days in Practice 455

EARLY DAYS IN PRACTICE 455 Special difficulties of women doctors in general and of S. J.-B. in particular—Opens Dispensary— Assistance of distinguished Edinburgh doctors— Early success—Letters to colleagues and friends— Views on Suffrage and on life in general.

CHAPTER II. Last Illness of Mrs. Jex-Blake 470

LAST ILLNESS OF MRS. JEX-BLAKE 470 S. J.-B. called south for last time—Unavailing efforts—Death of Mrs. Jex-Blake.

CHAPTER III PATIENTS AND FRIENDS 476 S. J.-B. removes to Bruntsfield Lodge—Letters to old friends—Interest in education of girls—Views on problems and mysteries of life—Paying and non-paying guests—Beginnings of Edinburgh Hospital for Women and Children—Her love of poetry—Her books.

CHAPTER IV. Public Life 490

PUBLIC LIFE 490 Interest in all public questions relating to women—Too masterful and uncompromising in working with others—Publishes The Care of Infants—Her coöperation much in demand in parliamentary business—Assists Edinburgh lecturers in their efforts to obtain charter— Efforts fail, but examinations of Conjoint Colleges thrown open to women—Re-publication of Medical Women—The Englishwoman’s Year Book— Health Lecture to Women—Founding of Edinburgh School of Medicine for Women—Its difficulties— Opposition.

CHAPTER V. Re-Opening of Edinburgh University to Women 502

RE-OPENING OF EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY TO WOMEN 502 S. J.-B. writes article for Nineteenth Century— Views on marriage, etc.—Her Hindu students— Appointed a lecturer on Midwifery in the Extra- Mural School—Death of Dr. Lucy Sewall—S. J.-B.’s renewed efforts to gain admission for women to St. Andrews—Final appeal to her own Alma Mater “to decide a question which has been under consideration for twenty-five years”—Success— Congratulations from members of “National Association”—S. J.-B.’s characteristics as doctor and as citizen.

CHAPTER VI. Driving Tours. Animal Friends 513

DRIVING TOURS. ANIMAL FRIENDS 513

CHAPTER VII THE SABBATICAL YEAR 523 Search for a suitable house—Send-off from friends in Edinburgh—Windydene—Life in retirement—Fruit- growing—Dairy—Friends—Books—Winters abroad— Interest in public affairs—Distrust of Germany— Suffrage—Death of Professor Masson—S. J.-B.’s religious attitude—Health—Last illness.

APPENDICES

A. Pedigree of the Jex-Blake family. Origin of 543 compound surname

B. “Words for the Way.”—No. 2. Rest 544

C. Conclusions from “A Visit to American Schools and 548 Colleges”

D. The Edinburgh Extra-Mural School 551

E. Letter to the Times in reply to Mrs. Garrett 552 Anderson

F. Letter to the Times in reply to the Principal of 555 Edinburgh University

G. Permanent Memorials of S. J.-B. 563

INDEX 565

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

SOPHIA JEX-BLAKE Frontispiece From a painting by Samuel Laurence

THOMAS JEX-BLAKE To face p. 70 From a drawing in chalks by Henry T. Wells, R.A.

MARIA EMILY JEX-BLAKE ” 384 From a drawing in chalks by Henry T. Wells, R.A.

SOPHIA JEX-BLAKE ” 484

PART I

Our great interest in biography is due to the desire to see that the “child is father to the man”; in other words, to see how, from boyhood to manhood and from manhood to old age, through all change of circumstances and all widening of intellectual and practical interests, we can detect the same unique, individual nature, and link each new expression of it in speech and action with that which preceded it.

EDWARD CAIRD.

CHAPTER I. Childhood

CHILDHOOD

Sophia Jex-Blake was born on the 21st January, 1840. “How happy I was with my Baby this time two and twenty years ago!” writes Mrs. Jex-Blake on the 21st January, 1862, and, if she had greater cause than some mothers for the plaintive note that one seems to hear through the words, she was the first to rejoice in her great compensations.

Certainly no baby ever had a warmer welcome into the world. At the time of her birth, her father, Mr. Thomas Jex-Blake, a proctor of Doctors’ Commons, was living the life of a retired gentleman with his wife at 3 Croft Place, Hastings. Both parents, though no longer young, and in some ways older than their years, were devotedly fond of children, and a number of disappointments had shadowed their married life. In January, 1840, their son, Thomas William, was eight years of age, and their daughter, Caroline, a staid little maiden of six. The home was crying out for a real baby, and all were prepared to treat the newcomer as a little queen.

Continue reading The Life of Sophia Jex-Blake free in the Wunder reader →