Who'd call a female doctor 'blue;'
You'd spare your sneers, I rather
Think, my young fellows, if you knew
What physic costs a father!
How much more blest were married life
To men of small condition,
If every one could have his wife
For family physician;
His nursery kept from ailments free,
By proper regulation,
And for advice his only fee
A thankful salutation.
For Doctrix Blackwell—that's the way
To dub in rightful gender—
In her profession, ever may
Prosperity attend her!
'Punch' a gold-handled parasol
Suggests for presentation
To one so well deserving all
Esteem and admiration.
1849.
III
First Annual Report of the New York Dispensary for Poor Women and Children, 1855
The design of this institution is to give to poor women an opportunity of consulting physicians of their own sex. The existing charities of our city regard the employment of women as physicians as an experiment, the success of which has not yet been sufficiently proved to admit of cordial co-operation. It was therefore necessary to form a separate institution which should furnish to poor women the medical aid which they could not obtain else-*where.
The following gentlemen cordially consented to act as
