12 DECEMBER 1914, Page 17

MEDICAL EDUCATION OF WOMBN IN LONDON.

(To 211Z 11)1101 F THE " SPECIATOR."1 Sma,—The increase in the number of women entering upon the study of medicine in London makes it urgently necessary to increase the laboratory accommodation of the London (Royal Free Hospital) School of Medicine for Women. This 'is not a war appeal, but it appears to the Council of the School to be justified even at a time like this by the need of the country fur uteri. doctors in the near future, and by the fact that this School is the only one in London at which women can obtain a medical education.

The School deserves help for its work in the past. Founded forty years ago when there were only two women on the British Medical Register, there are now about one thousand, of whom over six hundred are former students of the School.

The School deserves help for the work it is doing now. They annual entry has doubled in the last six years. Two hundred and twelve students are in attendance, and if the present animal entry be maintained this number will rapidly rise to three hundred. It is a School of the University of London in the Faculty of Medicine. It has beautiful and suitable premises built in 1899-1900; but they are not large enough for the present number of students. Additions to the laboratories, new research rooms, and more lecture rooms are essential. An adjoining site has been secured. Plans are prepared and approved, and building is to begin directly after Christmas.

The School deserves help for the work of the future. The demand for medical women constantly increases. In public. Departments throughout this kingdom, in sanatoria, in Poor Law institutions, in hospitals both in England and India, and as medical missionaries all over the world, they work in ever-growing- numbers. At the present time medical women are urgently called. upon to fill the places and supplement the' work of the medical men serving with the Army, and they are doing this both in this' country and in France, so far as their numbers permit. This demand will be increased in the near future owing to the number of young men now joining the Army, who might otherwise have studied medicine. Were twice as many to qualify as qualify now all would be absorbed by these and other needs.

The Council must raise £25,000 to pay for the additional build- ings required and their equipment, and ask those interested in the work and medical education of women to provide this sum. Donations or promises should be sent to the London (Royal Free Hospital) School of Medicine for Women, 8 Hunter Street, W.C.; addressed to the Hon. Treasurer, Mr. M. J. Henderson, who joins' with US in the appeal.—We are, Sir, &c., E. OsusET-r-AxnEnsos, President; F. D. AcLAND, Chairman LOUISA B. ALDRICR-BLASE, Dean; MAY THORNE, 1.1011._ Secretary.

London (Royal Free Hospital) School of Medicine for Women (University of London), 8 Hunter Street, W.C.