depend greatly upon the cooperation of intelligent women. They must
come to realize that they will secure the best treatment only as they
demand the highest standard of excellence from their attendants; and
they can aid in securing this for their poorer sisters and their
children by interesting themselves in obstetrical charities.

Secondly, they must realize that real progress in the science of
obstetrics can be expected to proceed only from well equipped clinics
connected with strong universities, and in charge of thoroughly
trained and broad-minded men. As yet such institutions scarcely exist
in this country. Women who are anxious to promote the welfare of
their sex can find no better way of doing so than by bringing this
need to the attention of wealthy men interested in philanthropy and
education. Furthermore, they should bear in mind that most of our
important discoveries would not have been made had animal
experimentation not been available, as it is solely by this means
that modern surgical and obstetrical technique has been brought to
its present degree of perfection; and further progress can scarcely
be expected without its aid. They should remember also that whenever
they take such a well-known drug as ergot for the control of
bleeding, or make use of many other apparently simple measures, they
are unconsciously rendering tribute to this type of investigation.

J. WHITRIDGE WILLIAMS.

Johns Hopkins University,
September, 1912.


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