Pearl M.D. relates how a female physician overcame a tragic mistake to build a successful practice and new life in 1880's North Carolina. Pearl M.D, by Marie Bartlett, illustrates the accomplishments and struggles of Pearl Stern, North Carolina's first female physician. The novel starts with an emergency: a pregnant woman, bleeding uncontrollably, gets rushed into her clinic. Pearl tries and fails to save her life, earning the hatred of her husband, a known misanthrope who has never trusted big city doctors, especially women. Pearl examines her actions during the case and remembers that she forgot to sterilize some instruments, which could have very well led to the death of her patient from infection.
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At this time, sterilization is considered a newfangled theory and not required for any healthcare professional. Pearl, however, believes in its value and advocates it for others, and hates that she forgot to clean things in her hurry to stanch the lady's bleeding. This memory haunts her enough to where she leaves town, heading for North Carolina, where she connects up with a very good female friend, who has her over for dinner and helps her get established.
Pearl proves herself a competent physician in North Carolina's back country, establishing her own practice treating people of all ages. Also she gets a request from a black woman to offer medical services to people of color, and she complies, to the disapproval of some whites in the neighborhood. Eventually, she hires one young black woman, Loomey, as an office assistant. Loomey proves herself a quick learner and takes an interest in medicine, and Pearl promotes her so she can handle some medical work.
The novel shows quirks of the time, as well as old-time attitudes towards women. Several townspeople don't want to be treated by a lady doctor, and publicly question her qualifications to practice. Women of means are expected to wear long dresses and corsets and show generous hospitality on fine china and silver, and often don't have much time for education, especially in the sciences. Punishment for murder comes swiftly through public hanging, even for a woman Pearl examines and does not consider mentally competent to face execution.
Speakers go to town halls and lecture on the health and edification of young ladies, urging them to avoid too much exertion and thought, and to steer clear of the terrible sin of self-abuse (masturbation). On the one hand, this is repressive, but on the other, women are finding a venue in which they can exercise intellectual gifts as religious reformers, public speakers and advocates for public morality.
Pearl gets to know the town sheriff, a strong personality who does not always agree with her professional judgement, but who comes to respect her. However, he one day receives a warrant for her arrest, for murder. The death of her pregnant patient and her child has caught up to her. Duty-bound to follow the law and seek out the truth, he comes over for what she thinks is a social visit, and brings her into court.
After a drawn-out court case, Pearl finally gets cleared of all charges of neglect and professional misconduct. She discovers that much of what happened to her was due to the jealous wife of the male physician with whom she formerly worked, who always suspected that Pearl was after her husband. And, although he had to do his job by bringing her in for arrest, the Sheriff reveals to Pearl that he considers her a friend and was rooting for her all along.
Best part of story, including ending:
I loved the amount of detail, thought and research that went into this book. How the author described treatments and conditions that real physicians of the day might have diagnosed and prescribed, and how there was real medicine in this book, not just romance.
Best scene in story:
My favorite scenes were the simple dinners Pearl enjoyed at the house of her best female friend. As a professional myself, I can testify to the value of moral support from those who understand the career path you are on and can help you work through emotional and intellectual questions. I also remember the tension when the North Carolina town sheriff had to arrest Pearl for possible negligent homicide in her past, when he was clearly developing feelings for her.
Opinion about the main character:
Pearl interested me because she was logical yet human, brilliant and forthright and methodical the way a physician should be, but wounded when rumors spread about her, and not afraid to fall in love.
