n a matter of absolute necessity. It cannot be assumed, by
any right-minded person, that male patients should be subjected
to inspection before a class of females, although this inspection
may, without impropriety, be submitted to before those of their
own sex. A thorough investigation, as well as demonstration, in
these cases--so necessary to render instruction complete and
effective--is, by a mixed audience, precluded; while the clinical
lecturer is restrained and embarrassed in his inquiries, and must
therefore fall short in the conclusions which he may draw, and in
the instruction which he communicates.

II. In many operations upon male patients exposure of the body is
inevitable, and demonstrations must be made which are unfitted
for the observation of students of the opposite sex. These
expositions, when made under the eye of such a conjoined
assemblage, are shocking to the sense of decency, and entail the
risk of unmanning the surgeon--of distracting his mind, and
endangering the life of his patient. Besides this, a large class
of surgical diseases of the male is of so delicate a nature as
altogether to forbid inspection by female students. Yet a
complete understanding of this particular class of diseases is of
preeminent importance to the community. Moreover, such affections
can be thoroughly studied only in the clinics of the large
cities, and the opportunity for studying them, so far from being
curtailed, should be extended to the utmost possible degree. To
those who are familiar with such cases as are here alluded to, it
is inconceivable that females should ever be called to their
treatment.

III. By the joint participation, on the part of male and female
students, in the instruction and in the demonstrations which
properly belong to the clinical lecture-room, the barrier of
respect is broken down, and that high estimation of womanly
qualities, which should always be sustained and cherished, and
which has its origin in domestic and social associations, is
lost, by an inevitable and positive demoralization of the
individuals concerned, thereby entailing most serious detriment
to the morals of society. In view of the above considerations,
the undersigned[260] do earnestly and solemnly protest against
the admixture of the sexes