This Mad Folly' - The history of Australia's women doctors traces the achievements of women medical practitioners. They courageously pursued their medical courses in the face of organised and often bitter opposition, especially in Sydney and Melbourne.
In 1891, Melbourne and Adelaide shared the honour of graduating the first women in medicine in Australia - Dr Clara Stone and Dr Margaret Whyte (University of Melbourne), and Dr Laura M. Fowler (University of Adelaide).
Four other Australian women had previously graduated overseas: Dr Constance Stone (Canada, 1888), Dr McCulloch Knight and Dr Stella Taylor (London, 1889) and Dr Dagmar Berne (London, 1891). Dr McCulloch Knight died during post-graduate study and Dr Taylor went to Boston, USA but the others returned to Australia to practise.
Of the first group of Victorian medical women graduates, there are varied newspaper referenced, but the graduation at the University of Sydney of the first two New South Wales, Dr Iza Coghlan and Dr Grace Robinson in 1893, were completely ignored.
The author has diligently searched university records in Australia and contemporary women's magazines. Extensive correspondence has gleaned further information. By far the greatest amount of material for the history was collected by personal contact with the last few of the pioneer women graduates and those who knew them intimately.
A valuable historical background to women's involvement in medicine in the ancient world through to Victorian times is provided by the author. She also discusses the suffragette movement in England and Australia which led to the re-emergence of women in the professions.
The names of the Victorian pioneer medical women were closely women with the story of the Queen Victoria Hospital in Melbourne and it is now their living memorial, the largest hospital of its kind in the British Commonwealth. The Rachel Forster Hospital, founded in Sydney in 1922, followed an earlier Sydney Medical Mission which was opened in 1900 and closed in 1917. Both hospitals, since their foundation, have made an important contribution towards improvement of medical care for women and children.
Contents:
List of Illustrations
Foreword
Introduction
Acknowledgements
1. Inequality in the Sexes
2. Woman's Former Status
3. Victorian Reform Efforts
4. Queen Victoria's Opposition
5. Melbourne University is Perturbed
6. Seven Women
7. The First Lady Doctors
8. Foundation of the Queen Victoria Hospital for Women and Children - Part 1
9. Queen Victoria Hospital - Part 2
10. Sydney's Chancellor Sponsors Women
11. Sydney Women on Sufferance
12. Australia's First Women Medical Student
13. Women Organise
14. Dr Susie O'Reilly Faces Opposition
15. Dismissal of Dr Jessie Aspinall
16. Vox Populi
17. Reinstatement
18. The Sydney Medical Mission
19. Rachel Forster Hospital
20. Dr Agnes Bennett, O.B.E.
21. The Work of Dr Vera Scantlebury-Brown, O.B.E.
22. Dr Isabella Ross, O.B.E. and Child Welfare
23. Medical Women's Societies
24. Conclusion
Biographical notes
Appendix 1. Medical Women Graduates Practising in Australia from 1889 to 1900
Appendix 2. Medical Women Graduates Practising in Australia 1910 to 1911
Appendix 3. Australian Women Graduates in 'Firsts'
Appendix 4. Medical Women 'Firsts'
Bibliography
Index
