The Life of Sophia Jex-Blake

It was that winter at Bordighera that gave her strength and energy for the final uprooting. The autumn of 1898-99 was spent on a driving tour of 1100 miles through the S.E. coun...

S. J.-B.’s medical experience in America had consisted mainly of practical hospital work, and that chiefly in connection with the special diseases of women. She had done a littl...

Though I must now be rather more economical of space (for I can send but 1/4 instead of 1/2 oz) I cannot resist beginning a fresh letter to you, having but just posted my last,...

The great remain children to the last, and in this respect S. J.-B. was essentially one of the great. To the end of her life, for those who knew her well, she could be a delight...

When S. J.-B. left England her plan had been to spend at least part of the winter with an old school-friend, now married to the Revd. Addington Venables—afterwards Bishop—of Nas...

It will surprise no one who has read the extracts from Sophy’s diary on page 32 to learn that, at the end of the summer term, Miss X. announced her inability to keep her any lon...

Meanwhile, in the world outside, the feminist movement was beginning to make itself felt,—if one may describe by so inadequate a name an uprising which is due perhaps as much to...

How far S. J.-B. was depressed in mind and body by the events of that wearing fight, we can fairly guess. But nothing had happened to disturb in the smallest degree her faith,—h...

The dramatic days were over. The task that now lay before S. J.-B. was to pick up all that remained of herself after the conflict, and settle down to practice. It is a solemn mo...

On September 1st, 1866, S. J.-B. sailed again for America. A warm welcome awaited her, and she speedily fell back into her niche at the Women’s Hospital. Her main interest for t...

It is the great miracle of life—that first glow and uplifting of the soul in touch with the Unseen. “The immediate consciousness of the religious man,” said Hegel, “has in it an...

In any case S. J.-B. was not to wait long for those “with whom she could take counsel.” In the autumn of 1867 Mr. Alexander Macmillan appears to have discussed with her the proj...

“Did you advertise your lecture in the _Lancet_? I expect you will have a lot of blackguardly doctors there in consequence. Don’t have any libel cases, and don’t be hard on the...

The month of August brought some rest and refreshment, though S. J.-B. remained in Edinburgh to “coach” for the Matriculation Examination. Mrs. Burn Murdoch put her spacious and...

It is not to be supposed, however, that the dark days were at an end. Far from it. The next act in the drama was an action for libel brought against S. J.-B. by Professor Christ...

So S. J.-B. had written in October 1864, and, seven months later, she sailed for Boston. This crossing of the Atlantic was another considerable venture for the young woman of th...

It was hard to go back to the house in Manor Place, so full of associations, and, as soon as might be, S. J.-B. and Miss Du Pre removed to Bruntsfield Lodge, a roomy, rambling o...

It was perhaps well that an interesting new factor came into S. J.-B.’s life at this moment. Miss Elizabeth Garrett (afterwards Mrs. Garrett Anderson, M.D.) had made up her mind...

“You often say how happy you were as a child,” an intimate friend remarked once to Dr. Jex-Blake, “but you never talk of your school life. I expect you were a terrible pickle?”

It is with a definite sense of relief that one takes up the thread of S. J.-B.’s life after she leaves school. She is still, it is true, a problem and a perplexity to many, and...

It was at this stage that Mrs. Anderson’s help was so invaluable to the great venture. She had an assured position—social and professional—in the metropolis; and her name carrie...

So wrote Mrs. Jex-Blake in the end of January; but even the physical rest was destined to be long delayed. As explained in the previous chapter, S. J.-B. did not at all draw to...

It is not to be supposed that the “cataracts and breaks” were a thing of the past. There were many who found S. J.-B. a delightful person to work with, but even they had no diff...

“Mrs. A. tells me Christison actually threatened to resign if women are admitted!—and to the Medical Faculty this is a formidable threat. She thinks also ‘the professors haven’t...

“If anybody ever deserved a rest, you do,” writes Miss Stevenson, “and I most earnestly hope you will take a thorough one. I do not think _any of us_ are able fully to realize t...

“You will probably know how nicely woman’s rights were received by some of my fellow students the other day. The female medicals were hooted, hissed and jostled till the police...

“I think the Lord has _begun_ a good work in me.” Is there in the words a—very human and pardonable—suggestion of St. Augustine’s “_Timebam enim ne me cito exaudires_”? In any c...

It seemed better in the previous chapter to explain at once that, after a brief run of prosperity, the history of the Edinburgh School of Medicine for Women was chequered by a l...

... I never read or heard of such a hard case as yours—and so peculiar. It might be worth while to seek the advice of a Solicitor— who would consult counsel—to find out whether...

Meanwhile Miss Elizabeth Garrett was providing in her own career the very example that was needed to clinch the argument. After much arduous work and lavish expenditure of money...

The friendly reader will feel, without doubt, that the year 1876-77 had done something to justify its passage, so far as the women were concerned, but the year 1876-77 was givin...

All through the years of work and conflict, S. J.-B. had looked forward to her “Sabbatical year,” when, with a clear conscience, she could retire from active life, and share wit...

Of course S. J.-B. was not allowed to pay one penny of her expenses. The amount was subscribed, and more than subscribed, by sympathizers all over the United Kingdom in the cour...

The year 1873 is not one of the most dramatic in the history, but no other has a more impressive record of work done, of resolute determination to try every door, and to _keep o...

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...

The results of the campaign, duly chronicled in the _Scotsman_, filtered through into other papers, and a certain amount of public interest was the result. Before many days had...

It was whispered by some of those who might have been supposed to know, that—notwithstanding the paragraphs that still stood in the _University Calendar_ (see p. 260)—an effort...

The Professor of Botany (Dr. Balfour, formerly Dean of the Faculty of Medicine) who had wished to admit them to his ordinary class, made arrangements to teach them separately. P...

It was in the course of this summer of 1868 that S. J.-B. realized her earnest wish to welcome her friend Dr. Lucy Sewall in England. She had raised great expectations among her...

It has never been customary among students of human nature to attach great importance to the outpourings of a romantic friendship, save in the rare cases where these have achiev...

It is a terrible thing for a hasty, impulsive, faulty human being to be placed as S. J.-B. was at this time, in a difficult position—on a slippery ridge, as it were—in the eye o...

So far S. J.-B.’s success in Edinburgh had been on the whole greater than most of her friends had anticipated. The experiment could never have been made, had not Mrs. Jex-Blake...

S.J.-B. landed at Queenstown on November 27th, 1868, and “came rushing through Cork, Dublin and Holyhead on that weary 24 hours’ journey” back to the home in Brighton, to find t...

While all this business was pending, Miss M‘Laren, rendered incredulous by her long family experience of parliamentary life, that a Bill introduced so late could really pass—had...

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 i...

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 witho...

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,...

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 fi...

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 i...

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” a...

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 i...

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 inte...

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 righ...

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 Sidg...

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 wome...

PIONEER WORK IN AMERICA 188 Writes “A Visit”—Published by Macmillan—Good reviews—Begins study of medicine—Application to Harvard—Letters from Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes and Dr. B...

A VISIT TO SOME AMERICAN SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES 159 Opposition of parents—Goes to Boston—Makes acquaintance of Dr. Lucy Sewall—R. W. Emerson— Dinner at the Emersons—Visits Niagara...

GOING HOME 202 Visit of Dr. Sewall to England—Rapprochement between S. J.-B. and her father—Dr. Elizabeth and Dr. Emily Blackwell found Medical College for Women in New York—S....

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...

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...

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-payin...

GERMANY 117 Miss Garrett’s efforts to obtain medical education—Comes to prospect in Edinburgh—She and S. J.-B. go canvassing together—Disappointment— S. J.-B.’s desire to study...

OPENING OF EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY TO WOMEN 253 S. J.-B. reinforced by Mrs. Thorne and Miss Pechey—Dr. King Chambers tries—and fails—to get women admitted to St. Mary’s Hospital—Ed...

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...

LIFE AT QUEEN’S COLLEGE 62 Comes into touch with Feminist movement—Goes to Queen’s College—Friction—Hunt for lodgings—Is appointed mathematical tutor—Correspondence with her fat...

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...

QUESTIONINGS 172 Gets to know women doctors in Boston—Assists with dispensing in New England Hospital for Women— Gradual initiation into hospital work—Heart- searchings as to he...

FIRST EXPERIENCE OF EDINBURGH 103 The problem of realizing the vision—Goes to study educational methods in Edinburgh—Chequered experiences—Church-going and religious difficultie...

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—Ne...

VARIOUS PROJECTS AND VENTURES 147 Return home delayed by scarlet fever—Death of a college friend—Mr. Plumptre recommends S. J.-B. as founder and Lady Principal of modern Girls’...

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.