According to The Biological Dictionary of Women in Science:
U.S. Surgeon, Born 24 April 1847 in Washington D.C. to Henry and Mary Malvina Owens Dimock. No siblings. Never married. Educated home until secondary school; Washington Academy; public school in Sterling, Mass; New England Hospital (1866); clinicals, Massachusetts General Hospital; Univeristy of Zurich (1868-1871, high honors); Vienna and Paris; Professional experience: New England Hospital for Women and Children, resident physician (from 1875). Died 7 May at sea.
Dr. Susan Dimock
#5 of 7 of The Zürich 7 [1868 - 1871]
Über die verschiedenen Formen des Puerperalfiebers : nach Beobachtungen in der Züricher Gebäranstalt.
(The Various Forms of Puerperal Fever (postpartum infections):
Based on Observations at the Zürich Maternity Hospital)
If not otherwise referenced, the basis of this work is inspired by the details within the Memoir of Susan Dimock, published in 1875, shortly after her death. It provides an account of her life, work, and achievements, particularly her contributions as the resident physician of the New England Hospital for Women and Children. The memoir details her medical career, including her studies in Europe and her pioneering work in nursing education in the U.S. It can be accessed here for free online.
FIND: Wilson S. Women and children first : the trailblazing life of Susan Dimock, M.D. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers; 2023. (can buy online)
Dimock S. Memoir of Susan Dimock : resident physician of the New England Hospital for Women and Children. Boston: [Press of J. Wilson]; 1875.
1847
Born in North Carolina, Susan's father was the son of a physician, Susan’s mother taught Susan along with other children.
1860
At the age of 13, Susan first started at Washington Academy, but it soon closed because of the start of the Civil War.
Susan was sent to Mr. Boghart’s ladies' school, where she excelled in Latin, eventually surpassing her father’s proficiency from his college days. A passionate reader, she studied medical texts and apprenticed under the family’s physician, Dr. Solomon Sampson Satchwell. Inspired by her grandfather's legacy, Susan resolved to become a physician herself.
1863
Susan’s father dies as the Civil War draws to a close and as a result the family lost most of their property. The mother and daughter moved north to Sterling, Massachusetts to be close to relatives. Susan’s mother was supportive of her path even though it would not be simple. She was entering the medical profession at a time of huge debate about the abilities and appropriateness of women as doctors. To understand the backstory in America visit the section Prologue featuring Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell and her role in paving the way for young Susan. To understand it in one misguided quote:
Society’s Take on Women Doctors:
“A woman who dissects, who makes post mortem examination, who tests urine, who perhaps carries diseased specimens in her dress pocket, who can pass the male catheter, who punctures buboes, probes sinuses, examines purulent discharges, applies ligatures to hemorrhoids, and may have just come from operating for anal fistula, is not a person on whom you would look for the tenderer domestic qualities.” [WIWC, 24]
Susan’s friend Miss Bessie Greene, shared her love of study and provided medical books for Susan to study. Required reading would look something like this for a young lady wanting to become a doctor: [WIWC, 57]
Carpenter’s Physiology
Wilson’s Anatomy
Pereira’s Materia Medica
Watson’s Practice of Medicine
Druitt’s Surgery
Chirchill’s Midwifery and Diseases of Women
Alison’s Pathology
Fowres’s Chemistry
Bell’s Legal Medicine
1865
To help make ends meet, Mrs. Dimock took in boarders and maybe taught school. Susan was encouraged by a family friend to accompany him on calls and borrow his medical books. He made an introduction to Dr. Marie Zakrezewska who suggested even more books for study [TBDOWIS,358].
With her friend’s encouragement along with the support of her mother, Susan applied to the New England Hospital for Women and Children. She was accepted.
1866
At 18, Susan started school. Both Dr. Zakrzewska and Dr. Lucy Sewall were impressed by her intellect and aptitude for medicine and suggested she apply to Harvard. With recommendations from many local physicians Susan along with Sophie Jex-Blake applied to Harvard. Sophia began clinical visits at Massachusetts General Hospital during this time.
1867
Both women were denied admission to Harvard for the non reason as that they have never had women students previously. The women around Susan did not want her to settle for a second rate education and since no university in America with a traditional medical program would accept her as a student. Drs. Zakrzewska and Sewall suggested she try at Zurich where it was becoming known that women students were heading there.
ZURICH, May 6th, 1867.
DEAR MADAM,—I reply to your letter of March 7, which has just come to hand. I have the honor to inform you that there exists in this University no lawful impediment to the matriculation of female students, and that female students enjoy equal advantages with male students. There is here full liberty, and every one can attend the lectures as long as he may desire. The majority of the students need from five to five and a half years' course, before taking their degree. In answer to other questions of yours, I send you some printed regulations of the University.
I am, with great esteem, yours,
BIERMER,
Professor and Dean of Medical Faculty.
Susan was gifted enough money to cover her education and borrowed another $500 from medical friends. Another financial relief was the promise of the position of a resident physician for three years upon her return which would provide a steady income.
She had to study German for months before arriving to keep pace with the work.
1868
Susan set sail for Europe on September 7th. She spent a short time in London, then quickly to Paris to meet with Mary Putnam who urged Susan to spend a few days and enjoy the city, but since she had no money of her own in the expensive city she felt obligated to head quickly onto Zurich.
Starts school in Zurich at the age of 21, along with Eliza, Maria and Marie V.
Marie V wrote “she looks so soft and child-like and yet there is a strong determination in her thinking and behavior.” She helped her learn German and Dimock helped Marie with medical studies.
Miss Dimock was fond of every form of art, especially music and the drama, and their combination in the opera. She had no technical skill, but her keen appreciation and enjoyment of art was a source of great delight both to herself and her friends.
Letters From Zurich
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Sunday finds me safely through with last week's herculean labors. You know I had a hundred formalities to go through with, and no German to speak of. Looking back upon it, I do not see how I managed it; however, it is all plain sailing now, and I have nothing to do except to listen to lectures, study hard, and learn German.
Oh, it is so nice to get here, at a word, what I have been begging for in Boston for three years! I have every medical advantage that I can desire. I told the professor of anatomy, for instance, that I wanted a great deal of dissecting; and he immediately bowed, and said so kindly, " You shall have it; I only desire you shall tell me what you prefer." And so it is with every thing. I only have to go through the necessary formalities, and pay the fees, and I find that in every respect I have equal advantages with the young men; and then I find also the warmth and protection and feeling of interest which a young man finds in a university. And it is delightful; the professors are all very kind to me.
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I am all well settled, and fairly started to work, and exceedingly happy. My lectures began last week; and, whereas I expected to understand nothing for two weeks, I find I can follow most of the lectures right along.
I rise every morning at 6.30, breakfast at 7.15, and start for the university at 7.45. From 8 to 10 I dissect. I began the first day of lectures, and have worked hard at it; I enjoy it so much.
The professor, whom I like very much, is in the dissecting-room most of the time, and the students are as quiet and polite as possible. They smoke, and I dare say they joke, as I used to be told with a horrified air that they did; but the smoke is pleasant, and the jokes I cannot understand even if I could hear, which I do not, my table being at the other side of the room.
It is too funny to see Professor Myer come up, look at my work, and remark, with a pleased look, "Ganz schon!"—quite beautiful.
From 10 to 11 I have an anatomy lecture, which is made perfectly fascinating by having every thing that is lectured about right before me. From 11 to 12 chemistry, which is in another beautiful building at some distance, so we have a nice five-minutes' walk in the fresh air. At 12 I run home, with an appetite for my dinner, and at 1 o'clock I saunter out to get the air and sun for an hour; go to the "Hoch Promenade,'' a beautiful walk on a high hill, in the middle of the town, and overlooking the lake and the mountains. From 2 to 3 anatomy again; from 3 to 4 microscopical anatomy, the professor of which is a famous man; from 4 to 5 osteology; from 5 to 6 zoology; then home to supper, and then study: so pass the days.
Saturday morning, I dissect all the morning; and in the afternoon I do a little sewing and go for a long walk; and Saturday night I sleep soundly, I can tell you.
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I do not find that the work is one bit hard, but the contrary. Eight hours slip by like beads, and then between every hour there is a change, nearly always, from one building to another; and night comes, and I can sit down cozily and study, and can be sure of sleeping all night. I am often asked if I am not doing, too much, but I can't think that I am; for I feel well, have a tremendous appetite, sleep soundly, and am always ready to rise in the morning.
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My lectures grow more and more delightful the better I understand them. It is so nice to have good professors, and to have them kind to one! I think I shall all my life feel the advantages of having come here, where I am admitted on an equal footing with men-students, where professors are kind and interested in one's improvement; and I am sure I shall be a better doctor, for I am learning all the foundation studies so thoroughly, and I never was so well and strong, it seems to me, in my life. I hardly know what fatigue means, either of mind or body.
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I have now the signatures of all the professors whose lectures I have attended, and they all write that I have shown great diligence. I now look back upon the five months with a thankful heart.
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DEAR DR. ZAKRZEWSKA,—I thank you heartily for yours of December 1st, which was indeed a "greeting from home."
My expenses for the last year were as follows: From Oct. 13, 1868, to Oct. 13, 1869 frs. 2130.
Board, washing, and lights frs. 884.91
College expenses 689.10
Travelling 262.75
Clothes 263.51
Sundries 30.00
Travelling expenses might have been avoided, but my mother authorized this expenditure. In fact, you see it is little, while the pleasure and advantages which I have thus enjoyed have been very great. In the year which I have spent here, I have seen a large part of Switzerland, and chiefly upon my feet. I have upon principle spent my holidays in new places, because one returns then with renewed zest to home and quiet and study.
I have been very fortunate in making friends. The D—family, with whom I have lived for a year now, are delightful people to be with; and Mrs. D— has made her house a real home for me. In the spring she will go probably to England; and then I go to the friends whom I like most of all, most kind, happy, fresh, and learned people. There are two sons and one daughter, who is of my age, and one of my best friends.
The Swiss society here, which is most valuable, is just that to which strangers do not generally find entrance. In this society I have had the good fortune to make many friends, and I find it most satisfactory.
I have had many invitations during the holidays,—one of the most delightful of which was to Professor Heer's, professor of botany. He and Professor Escher von der Linth are my favorite professors.
The clinical advantages to be enjoyed here are really very good. The manufactories supply many surgical cases. People come from every part of Europe to Horner, the realist; and Zurich is unhealthy enough in the poor quarters to keep the medical wards full. The lying-in hospital is also quite full generally, I believe; I have not been there myself. Next summer I shall spend nearly all the day in the Clinic, and shall review the natural sciences; at any rate, botany and zoology. With physics, mineralogy, and chemistry, I shall have quite finished this winter. I have enjoyed these things very, very much. I have been very much interested in geology this winter, because I have some friends who are geologists. Last summer the geologists, with Professor Escher von der Linth, went on the long excursion in the mountains with us (the botanists) and Professor Heer. I hope they will do the same thing this summer. I go on Saturday afternoons to an Italian lecture from the Italian professor on Italian literature, which is very pleasant. I do not know whether Dr. Sewall told you that I had the great fortune to make friends with Mazzini last summer. He has since sent me his letter Ai Nemici. I am only learning Italian a little, so that I may fully enjoy my Italian journey when it comes. German is now very easy,—that is, to understand; but I believe I make very laughable mistakes still in speaking and writing. The students laugh at me very often, but politely and kindly, so that it is not unpleasant.
I am very glad that we will have a new hospital in Boston. It will be good both for physicians and patients. I shall be very glad to send you any suggestions which might be advantageous, when I go to Vienna.
I shall be so much obliged to you if you will send me the report of the hospital for the last two years.
When you have opportunity to write to me, you will know that a letter from you will give me the greatest satisfaction. Please accept my best wishes for the new year, and believe me,
Yours very truly,
S. DIMOCK.
I shall send you a report of the late congress in Berlin. I received an invitation to it.
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57 ZELTUNG, ZURICH
DEAR DR. ZAKRZEWSKA,—I thank you heartily for your kind letter received yesterday. This is the week of the Fair. I hope it has been very successful, so that we may have a new hospital soon.
I am very glad that you approve of my plans for the next two years. I hope to be examined in June or July in the written theses, in July in the vocal examination, and in August to graduate. I shall then probably spend the vacation in Switzerland, and go in September to Vienna, by the way of Munich and the Bavarian Highlands, where I have an invitation which I should be glad to accept.
I shall be in a different atmosphere in Vienna? Zurich being directly opposed to the Prague and Vienna school, siding generally with Virchon and Berlin. Whether I go to Paris or not will, of course, depend upon the state of affairs in Paris.
I hope then to spend four weeks in London, to visit the hospitals and the grand collections of natural history. That I am able to spend a fourth year in Europe I owe to my mother, as indeed I owe most of the good things which I have had in my life.
As regards my finances, I am quite contented; till now, the money which I received from my friends has sufficed. In May, I shall receive a remittance from my mother, who has been very prosperous with her schools, as well as with her business matters. If I should not have enough in my last year, on account of increased expenditure, which is necessary in large towns, I shall not hesitate to borrow.
It is a mistake about the fifty-two lectures. I had in summer fifty-two hours a week in the University, but the greater part of the time was spent in clinical work, microscopy, autopsy, the surgical course upon the dead body; in short, work in which my hands rested my head Nevertheless, it would have been too much if I had not just returned, fresh and happy, from six weeks of uninterrupted rest and pleasure in Italy, and if the term had not been so short, Easter falling late in spring.
This winter, I have much less to do. I practice in midwifery, medicine, and surgery, and read up for my examination; recite in anatomy once a week (topographical anatomy), attend the percussion and auscultation course on Sunday mornings, and hear the lectures upon forensic medicine.
I have also plenty of pleasure beside my work I go to-morrow, for instance, to Locher-Balbus', the Professor of Materia Medica, to coffee and wine with the class of gentlemen. On Tuesday evening, I am invited to a grand concert. I have many more invitations this winter than I can with pleasure and profit accept, and so I decline.
I hope that Dr. Sewall is better by this time. Please remember me to her, to Dr. Buckel, and Dr. Morton; and believe me
Yours most truly,
SUSAN DIMOCK
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IM THURM, ALLY-KRANKERHAUS.
Alsergrund, Vienna, Nov. 22.DEAR DR. ZAKRZEWSKA,—I thank you heartily for your letter, which was forwarded to me from Zurich,—I not having waited for it, because, upon thought, I found that a winter in Vienna would serve me as private physician as much as one as hospital physician. That I shall be glad to be hospital physician instead of private physician, I do not need to say; since, although my zeal would not, I hope, be diminished, my courage might, perhaps, be less. But in each and every case, I shall never forget the physician's oath which I have taken; namely, to devote my knowledge and strength and zeal and life to science and the welfare of my patients.
Of my pleasant life here in Vienna, I have given more detailed account in my letter to Dr. Sewall. You, who are interested not only in my medical but also in my social relations, will be glad to hear that both are extremely pleasant and gratifying.
And, to my satisfaction, I find that living here costs hardly more than in Zurich, so that I shall have plenty of money. With the check which you are so kind as to offer me, I purpose buying an excellent microscope. If you will send it to me at any time convenient to yourself, I shall be much obliged to you. My address is exactly as at the heading of my letter,—Dr. Susan Dimock, Im Thurm.
Dear Doctor, if you have leisure to write during the winter, I shall be very happy to hear from you. In July, I shall probably pass through Boston, and hope to see you then. If I can execute any commissions for you here or in Paris, it would give me great pleasure.
May I beg you, with kindest regards to Dr. Morton, to remind her of letters of introduction for Paris, which she offered me? The excellent letters which I brought from Zurich hither have been of great service to me.
Once more thanking you for your kind letter, I remain
Yours truly,
S. DIMOCK
From a Berlin newspaper, By Prof. Böhmert*
*I believe this is from Karl Viktor Böhmert, who was at the time professor of economics at the ETH Polytechnic in Zurich. He was a German economist, statistician, and social reformer known for his work in labor economics, particularly his studies on wages, income inequality, and social insurance systems in 19th-century Germany.
In July, 1869, I accepted an invitation to-take part in a four-days' botanico-geologico excursion, which my colleagues, Professors Heer and Escher von der Linth, the most competent botanists for Swiss and mountain plants, undertook with their assistants, and more than thirty students of the High and Polytechnic schools.
At the assigned hour of starting from Zurich, I was not a little astonished to find among the members of the excursion, armed with alpenstaffs, botanical boxes, and travelling bags; two young ladies, Professor Heer told me that these two ladies were regular attendants of his lectures; and that, so far from producing any disturbance in the class, their modest and discreet behavior had such a good influence on the manners and behavior of the students as to make their presence in the longer excursion very desirable.
The excursion went:
on the first day, by railroad to Zug, by steamer to Arth, from there on foot by Goldau and the Lowerzer See to Brunnen
on the second day, from Brunnen the road led by Fluelen Altorf, Fluelen, into the wild Schachenthal to Unterschachen
on the third day, over the Kinzig-Kulm into Muottathal
and on the fourth, from Muotta over the Pragel into the Klonthal as far as Glarus, where we again took the railroad to Zurich.
On the whole tour, the ladies have shown themselves equal to the majority of the men, not only in scientific zeal and mental energy, but in endurance of the difficult labors of the two passes. They were always among the first to reach the end of the journey, which…
on the third day, lasted ten hours.
Nothing marred the pleasure of the journey. Professors and students alike felt that they had witnessed a triumph of womanly work and endurance; and when the male excursionists, old and young, met together for a few pleasant hours, Professor Heer gave voice to the general feeling, in reminding them how much the path of study was lightened for men, and what a high duty it was for them to help women to overcome the obstacles with which they have yet to contend. The feeling with which this speech was received was to me a pledge that many a manly student youth of Zurich Hospital prove a pioneer in the way of smoothing the way to woman's education and work.
Über die verschiedenen Formen des Puerperalfiebers : nach Beobachtungen in der Züricher Gebäranstalt.
She was 24 when she presented her thesis “The Different Forms of Puerperal Fever.” Upon completion anatomist Hermann von Meyer rose to say
“You have shown by your example that it is possible for women to devote themselves to the medical profession without denying your female nature.”
1871
She was 24 when she defended her thesis, the 4th women under gynecologist Adolf Gusserow. Her thesis “On the different forms of puerperal fever as observed in the lying-in clinic” was an elaborate essay, illustrated not only by a report of the cases occurring in the Zurich Hospital, but also by diagrams of the fever curves during the recovery of the patients. This treatise, which was admirably written, received high encomiums from her instructors, and justified the expectations of her American friends. Her defense was highly praised by Meyer. He stated they were happy to provide for her an environment she could not receive at home in America.
The British Medical Journal on November 18, 1871. Titled:
“Another Lady-Doctor,”
the notice read, “Miss Susan Dimock, a young American lady, has just graduated with distinction in medicine, surgery, and obstetrics, at the University of Zurich.” (back in America around the same time at the Pennsylvania Hospital the first women allowed in its clinics was subjected to insolent and offensive language, missiles of paper tin foil, tobacco-quids…while some of these men defiled the dresses of the ladies near them with tobacco juice.” )
“the groans and hisses of as ungentlemanly a set of fellows as one would care to meet”
After graduation Susan went to Vienna for a short time to pursue her studies in hospitals, she went on to Paris to do the same. Before we continue, one note about the situation for women giving birth in Vienna. Back in 1847 Vienna had two obstetrics wards, one had a 2% rate of fever post delivery, the other was significantly higher 13-18% [WIWC, 64]. It was known throughout the city a women would prefer to give birth in the street, a doctor, Ignaz Semmelweis, was curious why women giving birth in the street suffered fewer fevers than women who gave birth in the obstetrics ward. Turns out they were cross-contaminating new mothers with infectious material from performing autopsies.
1872
Internship in Vienna, Austria, where she was inspired by noted surgeon Theodor Billroth, MD (1829–1894), a clinical teacher in Zurich,
“The question, whether a woman can be fit for the study and practice of medicine, has been definitely answered by the appearance of Dr. Susan Dimock.”
July, Susan returns home from Europe, by August 20th Dr. Susan Dimock becomes the resident physician in Boston at the New England Hospital for Women and Children. In her report as physician for the year closing Sept. 30, 1872, Dr. Sewall said: "One of the pleasantest events of the year has been the return from Europe of Dr. Dimock (the one of our students who was the longest with us), to take charge of the hospital."
“The hospital was much changed since she left it, for it was now established in a new and commodious building, in a high and airy situation, offering ample accommodations for an increased number both of students and patients. The elder physicians had constantly gained in reputation and influence, and had secured a place in the community; so that the woman physician was no longer a monstrous anomaly in Boston, but was welcomed in society and honored in her profession. Dr. Dimock came to a place ready prepared for her, and where the remembrance of her student life and the accounts of her success at Zurich secured her a favorable reception. But she came also to a place of hard work and severe responsibility, for the arrangements of the institution are such as to leave the resident physician very free time in carrying out her own ideas, and therefore accountable, to a great degree, for the medical success of the hospital.”
1873
In addition to the clinical instruction the nurses received at the hospital, lectures were to begin. Three taught by Dr. Dimock on surgical nursing. She took high rank as a surgeon, for her young age, she was accomplished and skillful. “It is an interesting fact, that so many women have excelled in this branch of practice, which does not seem at first thought congenial to their feminine natures. But any one who saw Dr. Dimock at the operating table, where she was as calm and self-possessed as in the morning visit; who watched the extreme delicacy and skill with which she handled the tools, and the loving care with which she guarded the sensibilities of the patient,—must have recognized the eternal fitness of things, and seen that she was in her rightful place.”
All who knew her in her practice speak of her remarkable consideration for the feelings of her patients, that she knew how to put herself in their place, and that she would suffer no inspection or curious questioning which was not absolutely necessary. This care did not arise from tender sentiment alone, but from principle. She had a great abhorrence of that cruel indifference which considers a suffering human being only as a "beautiful case," or a subject for experiment;
"I have never known a physician, man or woman, whose diagnosis and judgment, in regard to a case, I valued more than I did hers. It is a mistake to consider her pre-eminently as a surgeon; it was her reasoning powers which gave her such marked superiority."
On the work they were doing at the hospital:
“when the time comes for their discharge, and they are, as often, homeless and friendless. During the past year, two ladies, moved by the cases of terrible suffering which we brought to their knowledge, have done much for these deserted wives and young mothers, who, though sometimes unmarried, are often still comparatively innocent. These have been saved from deeper sin and degradation, by the untiring efforts of these friends, who obtained subscriptions, paid the board of these poor women before labor and after their discharge convalescent from the hospital; and, when they became able to work, found them situations where the child could be received with the mother in consideration of a decrease of wages. Now that a beginning has been made in this much-needed work, we trust that others will go on with it, feeling that they are not only relieving and preventing terrible misery, but also lending a helping hand to those who have fallen, and who without the help must inevitably sink deeper and deeper.”
From 1872 to 1875, she professionalized the first formal nurses training program in the U.S., established a busy private clinical practice, and supervised both the care of patients and the education of students at the hospital. The influence of Dr. Billroth’s great attention to detail in surgery was apparent in Dr. Dimock’s meticulous medical records, her use of thermometers, daily charts to track patient wellness, careful descriptions of her operations, and intense interest in diagnosis.
Performs tumor removal on child
The Schiller
Susan had worked for three years as the resident physician and surgeon at the New England Hospital for Woman and Children. She was offered an extension which she consented with the condition that she would take five months leave over the summer of 1875 to tour Europe. She planned to visit Marie along with other friends in Zurich.
With two friends, they set sale from New York on April 27th 1875. On May 7th, the ship foundered on the Scilly Islands off the coast of England, nearly all perished.
A letter on her death
After her graduation at Zurich, she went to Vienna for a short time, where she pursued her studies in the hospitals; and then spent a few weeks in Paris, for the same purpose. She also made a short excursion to Switzerland. A letter of Dr. Funk, her teacher at Vienna, will give an idea of the impression which she made there:—
. . . Though we live in a time that is replete with strongly exciting scenes, and although our nerves are of necessity somewhat hardened by the action of events that daily and forcibly work upon them, yet our innermost feelings could not avoid being shaken and made to tremble to the core, at the news of the terrible catastrophe that had befallen the "Schiller." The one thing, however, that most affected me,—I confess it freely,—was not the great calamity in general, but the sudden, violent, and, alas! the so untimely death of an individual; the most worthy, thorough, so beautifully developed, and yet still so promising, Dr. Susan Dimock. Among those who attended my lectures in the General Hospital of this city, she was one of the most talented and most industrious; and all of my colleagues have expressed themselves to me as of the same opinion.
The hurricane has thus broken off a rose whose charms gladdened many hearts, and on whose fragrance it was not only the needy and weak that refreshed themselves. The rough hand of iron fate, guided by a higher and to us unfathomable power, has there felled a young tree, that in so short a time had borne such precious fruit and promised to produce still better. A life has suddenly been extinguished, which was splendidly developing, and gave authority for still greater expectations. I still see her before me, this charming figure, as she stepped into the sick room, full of propriety and modesty, and as though she were treading on holy ground; as she listened with rapt attention to my every word; as she examined the patient tenderly and with merciful hand, and yet thoroughly and completely; how she handled any and all instruments with skill, clearly comprehending all' phases of a disease, accurately distinguishing the essential from the incidental (a rare gift in women); and then, after thorough examination, how she gave, though with due care, still a straightforward, unshaken, independent opinion. I may say, as to her classic repose and the beautiful balance of all her being and action, that it was to me a matter of constant, downright surprise.
Should it be required of me to produce a pattern for a young disciple of AEsculapius about to put forth, I should only need to say,
"Make yourself to be like Miss Dimock."
But, alas, Miss Dimock is no more! It is proper to mourn for her, for we shall not soon see her like again.
One consolation has remained to us. The question, whether a woman can be fit for the study and practice of medicine, has been definitely answered by the appearance of Dr. Susan Dimock. To be sure, this still leaves unsolved the question in general. On this point of controversy, which has been before the public for some time now, and has had light thrown upon it from many and the most unexpected quarters, I fancy that experience, our greatest teacher, will have to give the last and decisive judgment, as she has done upon so many other subjects. If, namely, such as Miss Dimock will be found but sparsely distributed among us, so that they will rank only as exceptions among female physicians, then, certainly, every one will soon return to the old order of things; the whole movement will have become an unnatural one, and will die out, as many others have done before it.
But if, on the other hand, there will be many Miss Dimocks, then will the medical profession among women have taken firm root upon society; they will hold their own in spite of all possible prejudice, and the powers that will attack them will be as naught against them.
DOCENT DR. M. FUNK,
Of the Vienna School of Medicine.
Selected References:
[WIWC] Campbell, O. (2021). Women in White Coats: How the First Women Doctors Changed the World of Medicine. Park Row.
[MOSD] Dimock S. (1875). Memoir of Susan Dimock : resident physician of the New England Hospital for Women and Children. Boston: [Press of J. Wilson]
http://libertatia.bravehost.com/mutual/dimock.html
Susan Dimock’s Memoir was found thanks to The Wayback Machine - an initiative of the Internet Archive, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, building a digital library of Internet sites and other cultural artifacts in digital form. Other projects include Open Library & archive-it.org.