P. D. Handyside,
Patrick Heron Watson.”
The second letter was a petition signed by the lady students, the famous “Septem contra Edinam,” as they were called, enclosing Paper A and Paper B. It may be well to give the names of the gallant seven once for all: Sophia Jex-Blake, Mary Edith Pechey (Mrs. Pechey Phipson), Isabel Thorne, Matilda Chaplin (Mrs. Ayrton), Helen Evans (Mrs. Russel), Mary Anderson (Mrs. Marshall), Emily Bovell (Mrs. Sturge).
“November 5, 1870.
Paper A.—We, the undersigned physicians and surgeons of the Royal Infirmary desire to signify our willingness to allow female students of medicine to attend the practice of our wards, and to express our opinion that such attendance would in no way interfere with the full discharge of our duties towards our patients and other students.
J. Hughes Bennett,
George W. Balfour,
Patrick[Patrick] Heron Watson.”
In paper B, two other medical men expressed their readiness, if suitable arrangements could be made, to teach the female students in the wards separately.
“15 Buccleuch Place, Nov. 13, 1870.