er of restraining and governing the natural tendency to sympathy, and are more disposed to yield to the expressions of acute sensibility. Where the responsibility in scenes of distress and danger does not fall upon them, when there is some one on whom they can lean, in whose skill and judgment they have entire confidence, they retain their collection and presence of mind; but where they become the principal agents, the feelings of sympathy are too powerful for the cool exercise of judgment. The profession of medicine does not afford a field for the display and indulgence or those finer feelings, which would be naturally called into operation by the circumstances in which a practitioner is placed. Not that a physician should be devoid of these feelings, or that he should attempt to extinguish them, or prevent their operation upon his mind, but they are to be so restrained, modified, and governed, as rather to form a principle of action, an element in the general character, than to be indulged on those particular occasions which have a peculiar tendency to call them into operation.
  I do not pretend that there are not exceptions to these remarks, that there are not women qualified, so far as their natural character is concerned, to practise midwifery; but the statement I have made is generally true, and I venture to say it will be felt to be true. But it may be said, that, in the ordinary practice of this branch of the profession, there is no call for these moral qualities; nature is sufficient for her own ends and needs no assistance from art. This is generally true; but it is also true, that