Miss or Mrs. Sarah Heckford writes to the TintoR to
say that although without a diploma, she practised medicine for two years in India, and doubts whether there is a remunerative field for female doctors. They are greatly wanted ; but she thinks the natives, though most ready to receive them, are un- willing to pay heavy fees for services to their women, and says that even in midwifery eases they will give a large honorarium if the child is a boy, and nothing at all if it is a girl. The last remark is probably true, native feeling on that matter being as Incurable as that of the old Jews ; but we do not believe the general argument. Natives are rich, and like all other human beings, will pay for what they value ; and they value their women. That it may be needful to claim fees in advance is possible, as they have a notion that medical attendance is a work of merit, which repays itself ; and we have no doubt that a Government appointment, even without salary, would be an assistance to the first female doctors ; but there are thousands of women in India with property of their own. The absence of a diploma would make all the difference in the amount of tho fee paid, as the defect would enable the native " doctor " to dis- credit the intrusive European. It is a most serious pity that the experiment should not be tried at first with the assistance of the India Office, Ajmere, the centre of the Rajpoot Courts, being selected in the first instance. Nothing would he easier than to appoint a holy " Adlitioaal Surgeon to the Residency," on 300 rs. a etenth.
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