DEGREES FOR WOMEN.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."]
SIR,—The Lancet assumes that as a result of the resolution of the Senate of the University of London on June 20, women will be allowed to practise medicine on terms easier than those ac- corded to men. I earnestly hope this will not be. I have ample means of ascertaining the wishes of those who are foremost in female education at the present time, and feel sure that they would hold it to be fatal, should any such invidious distinctions be made. The public would imagine that unfair concessions had been made to the weaker sex, a certain proportion of the medical profession will gladly encourage the idea, while the ladies them- selves would probably feel that, having passed a sufficiently diffi- cult examination, it would be unfair either to deny them the honour for which they bad toiled, and to which they were justly entitled, or to detract from its value. Thus no one would be satisfied.
But if the Senate will simply admit all persons to all examina- tions, without restrictions of sex, much unnecessary trouble will be saved, for no new regulations or additional examiners will be necessary. In justice to those ladies who have already passed examinations deemed equivalent to matriculation or first B.A., it would be manifestly unfair to require them to present themselves a second time in the same subjects.
May I add that I have experienced in my own family the advantages which result from the medical attendance of women upon women, and I heartily wish the movement success ? The various University examinations for women have already been the means of effecting vast improvements in female educa- tion, as, e.g., in the teaching of arithmetic and science ; and the throwing open of all degrees to women will undoubtedly operate as a further inducement to young women to continue their studies, as they will feel that they are no longer shut out from substantial [Our correspondent need have no fears. There is, we believe, no danger at all of the modification he deprecates.—ED. Spectator.]
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