devils I should become a devil myself—at which the good Doctor stared.
Nevertheless, I shrink extremely from the idea of giving up the attempt in America and going to France, although the suggestion is often urged on me.
The fear of successful rivalry which at that time
often existed in the medical mind was expressed
by the dean of one of the smaller schools, who
frankly replied to the application, 'You cannot
expect us to furnish you with a stick to break our
heads with;' so revolutionary seemed the attempt
of a woman to leave a subordinate position and seek
to obtain a complete medical education. A similarly
mistaken notion of the rapid practical success which
would attend a lady doctor was shown later by one
of the professors of my medical college, who was
desirous of entering into partnership with me on
condition of sharing profits over 5,000 dollars on my
first year's practice.
During these fruitless efforts my kindly Quaker adviser, whose private lectures I attended, said to me: 'Elizabeth, it is of no use trying. Thee cannot gain admission to these schools. Thee must go to Paris and don masculine attire to gain the necessary knowledge.' Curiously enough, this suggestion of disguise made by good Dr. Warrington was also given me by Doctor Pankhurst, the Professor of Surgery in the largest college in Philadelphia. He thoroughly approved of a woman's gaining complete medical knowledge; told me that although my public entrance into the classes was out of the
