h the individual gets neither honour nor even thanks, is that of
refusing "black leg" labour. It is generally admitted by those who
have to deal with the question of salaries and conditions of work
under public authorities, that medical women, as a whole, have shown
at least as great public spirit as men in refusing unsatisfactory
terms. To lose a post which would give one enough for one's own
needs and which would mean so much more in the way of experience and
adequate scope for one's energies, and to refuse it simply because
it would lower the market rate of pay, is a very fine thing to do.
Unless, however, this high tone is maintained the position of medical
women will become as bad as that of some other working women. If, on
the other hand, it can be maintained, the position already gained may
be used as a very powerful lever in raising the rate of pay in other
departments of women's work. There is sufficient support for
us amongst medical men. Everything, therefore, depends upon the
_personnel_ of the women doctors, and, as things become easier for
the students, it becomes more and more difficult to convince the new
recruits of the strenuousness of the fight in earlier years and of the
need for constant vigilance and self-sacrifice at the present time.

Those who fought so nobly in the past have earned the lasting respect
and gratitude of those who come after them. An account of their
labours has been written by Mrs Isabel Thorne, and is called a "Sketch
of the Foundation and Development of the London School of Medicine
for Women."[1] It reads like a romance and shows the absolute
determination and pluck which were needed by the women in order to
gain their point. As one learns of the rebuffs and indignities which
they endured, it reminds one of the struggle which is at the present
time going on for the parliamentary vote. There is one thing which
makes one inclined to "back the women every time," and that is their
stupendous patience. A very short _resume_ of the facts may not be out
of place here. Miss Elizabeth Blackwell, English by birth but resident
in America, succeeded in 1858 after much difficulty in obtaining the
degree of M.D. of the University of Geneva, United States of America.
She then applied to have her name placed upon the register of duly
qualified medical practitioners of the General Medical Council of
Great Britain and Ireland, and it was discovered to the dismay of the
authorities that she coul