A Disquisition on the True Physician

Version: 4 (current) | Updated: 11/19/2025, 8:34:04 PM

Added description

Description

A Disquisition on the True Physician

Overview

A Disquisition on the True Physician is an 1851 English‑language manuscript submitted by Angenette A. Hunt as her inaugural thesis for an M.D. degree at the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania. The document comprises fourteen pages (illustrated in the archive as JPEG images 1–14) and is catalogued in the PINAX digital repository. It was composed on November 26, 1851, and the thesis was received by Dr. W.N. Hunt.

Background

The thesis was produced during a period of expanding medical education for women in the United States. The Female Medical College of Pennsylvania, located in Pennsylvania, was one of the first institutions to award medical degrees to women. Hunt, a resident of Hamilton, New York, completed a three‑year course of study before presenting this work. The manuscript reflects contemporary debates about professional standards, the role of women in medicine, and the need for reform in medical practice.

Contents

The text argues for a definition of the “true physician” as one who balances scientific knowledge with humane compassion. It critiques the prevailing “medical materialism” of the era and calls for a renewed respect for the profession. The thesis references classical authorities—Hippocrates, Galen, Erasistratus, and the concept of medicatrix naturae—to frame its arguments. A significant portion discusses the qualities women bring to medicine, such as gentleness, patience, and instinct, and advocates for their expanded participation in medical education and practice. The manuscript is organized into thematic sections, each illustrated by the OCR‑captured passages from the corresponding image pages.

Scope

The collection covers the history of medicine, medical education, and women’s roles in the 19th‑century United States. It includes biographical references to ancient Greek physicians and contemporary medical reformers. The thesis is limited to the author’s arguments and historical references; it does not contain experimental data, clinical case studies, or modern medical guidelines. The material is relevant for scholars of medical history, gender studies, and the evolution of professional ethics.

Entities

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Raw Cheimarros Data

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Metadata

Version History (4 versions)

  • ✓ v4 (current) · 11/19/2025, 8:34:04 PM
    "Added description"
  • v3 · 11/19/2025, 8:32:07 PM · View this version
    "Added knowledge graph extraction"
  • v2 · 11/19/2025, 8:30:12 PM · View this version
    "Added PINAX metadata"
  • v1 · 11/19/2025, 8:29:01 PM · View this version
    "Reorganization group: Thesis_Content"

Additional Components (14)

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