Well Women. Veronica arvensis, Field Speedwell, タチイヌノフグリ, Aletta Jacobs and Ine Kusamoto, Narutaki, Nagasaki, Japan
How exciting those 1870s! Here's pretty tiny Veronica arvensis, Field Speedwell, whose flowers are only a few millimetres across. Among many cures for which it can be employed according to Abraham Munting (1626-1683), untiring botanist of the University of Groingen, is the infertility of women. Whether that cure works I don't know. But as I was botanising in the garden of great Philipp Franz von Siebold (1796-1866) - see my two earlier photos - I saw this Blue (only naturalised in Japan since the 1870s) and was immediately reminded of two formidable women.
The first is Aletta Jacobs (1854-1929), left inset in this photo, the second is Ine Kusamoto (1827-1903), the right inset.
Ine Kusamoto was the daughter of Von Siebold by his Japanese wife Taki. She was taught western medicine by her father's students after he had had to leave Japan on charges of spying. She rose to be the first female obstetrician and gynecologist according to western principles in Japan. In 1871 she opened a clinic in Tsukigi, Tokyo, and she assisted at the birth of the son of the Mejii Emperor.
Aletta Jacobs is her 'sister in medicine'. Born near Groningen in The Netherlands she was to become the first female physician in The Netherlands - doctorate in 1879 - and also a formidable fighter for women's rights.
Whether either woman ever used Veronica arvensis for their female patients is unknown. But that through their perseverance often against daunting forces they opened up the field of medicine to women in Japan and The Netherlands is a thing to remember!
Well Women. Veronica arvensis, Field Speedwell, タチイヌノフグリ, Aletta Jacobs and Ine Kusamoto, Narutaki, Nagasaki, Japan
How exciting those 1870s! Here's pretty tiny Veronica arvensis, Field Speedwell, whose flowers are only a few millimetres across. Among many cures for which it can be employed according to Abraham Munting (1626-1683), untiring botanist of the University of Groingen, is the infertility of women. Whether that cure works I don't know. But as I was botanising in the garden of great Philipp Franz von Siebold (1796-1866) - see my two earlier photos - I saw this Blue (only naturalised in Japan since the 1870s) and was immediately reminded of two formidable women.
The first is Aletta Jacobs (1854-1929), left inset in this photo, the second is Ine Kusamoto (1827-1903), the right inset.
Ine Kusamoto was the daughter of Von Siebold by his Japanese wife Taki. She was taught western medicine by her father's students after he had had to leave Japan on charges of spying. She rose to be the first female obstetrician and gynecologist according to western principles in Japan. In 1871 she opened a clinic in Tsukigi, Tokyo, and she assisted at the birth of the son of the Mejii Emperor.
Aletta Jacobs is her 'sister in medicine'. Born near Groningen in The Netherlands she was to become the first female physician in The Netherlands - doctorate in 1879 - and also a formidable fighter for women's rights.
Whether either woman ever used Veronica arvensis for their female patients is unknown. But that through their perseverance often against daunting forces they opened up the field of medicine to women in Japan and The Netherlands is a thing to remember!