Janice P. Nimura

I remember reading about Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell in a biography written for children so I knew she was the first U.S. woman to receive an M.D. degree. I don't remember that book mentioning her sister who also became a doctor. In one sense, I wish I hadn't read this book because it diminished my admiration of "the first woman doctor". I do still admire her determination to achieve what she did and her persistence in doing so. I hadn't realized that she really didn't practice medicine all that much. I also hadn't realized she'd lost an eye to infection.

I kind of get the idea that Elizabeth was a lonely person, always striving for the next thing, wanting recognition that she rarely got. In some ways, she was ahead of the game in hygiene--or at least in realizing it was important both within and outside medicine.

Her sister, Emily, almost seemed roped in to the medical field by Elizabeth (whether Emily wanted that career or not) though she did seem to be more personable (especially when she was left to head the New York portion while Elizabeth went to England.) and she did seem to practice more actual medicine than Elizabeth did.

Somehow though, I almost wish I hadn't read this and didn't know what it revealed so I could still have my childish admiration of the first woman doctor.… (meer)