"It is one thing to say, "Some men shall rule," quite another to declare, "All men shall rule," and that in virtue of the most primitive, the most rudimentary attribute they possess, that namely of sex." ~ DR. Mary Putnam Jacobi
Let me take you back to a time when the very idea of a woman practising medicine was met with ridicule or outright hostility. Victorian society didn’t just discourage women from entering the medical field—it actively believed they were biologically incapable of handling the intellectual or physical demands of the profession.
But one woman refused to accept these limitations. Dr. Mary Putnam Jacobi wasn’t just a doctor—she was a trailblazer, a scientist, a writer, a teacher, and a fierce advocate for women’s rights. And yet, over a century after her death, her name has faded from public memory.
This is her story: a story of defiance, determination, and the unshakable belief that women were as capable as men in every sense of the word.
A Young Girl with Big Dreams
Born in London in 1842 to American parents, Mary Putnam was the eldest child of George Palmer Putnam, a prominent New York publisher, and his wife, Victorine. Surrounded by books, ideas, and encouragement to think independently, Mary was an exceptionally bright and ambitious child.
At just 10 years old, she wrote in her journal,
“I would be great. I would do deeds, so that after I had passed into that region beyond the grave, I should be spoken of with affection.”
This wasn’t just youthful bravado. By the age of 15, Mary was already publishing short stories in The Atlantic Monthly. But her ambitions didn’t stop at writing—she wanted to study medicine, a choice almost unheard of for a woman at the time.
Breaking Barriers: The First Woman at the Sorbonne
Imagine Paris in the 1860s: cobblestones beneath your feet, the scent of freshly baked bread in the air, and a woman like Dr. Mary Putnam Jacobi marching into the Sorbonne’s medical school. It wasn’t the done thing, you see. Women weren’t supposed to study medicine—let alone at one of the most prestigious universities in the world.
But Mary wasn’t one to let “supposed to” stand in her way. After earning her medical degree in the United States, she moved to Paris in 1868, determined to receive the best education possible. She fought through significant resistance to become the first woman admitted to the Sorbonne’s medical school, graduating with honours in 1871.
Paris wasn’t just a backdrop to Mary’s academic success—it became a crucible for her character. She stayed in the city during the siege of the Franco-Prussian War, enduring food shortages and danger, all to complete her studies. If that doesn’t tell you about her resolve, what will?
Menstruation and Medicine: A Data-Driven Revolution
One of Mary’s greatest achievements came in 1876, when she took on a question that was central to both medicine and the broader fight for women’s rights: “Do women require mental and physical rest during menstruation?”
At the time, the prevailing belief was that menstruation rendered women weak and unfit for serious work. But Mary didn’t just challenge this notion—she demolished it with data.
She sent out questionnaires asking women detailed questions about their cycles and daily lives:
How long did they bleed?
Did it hurt? How far could they walk?
How many hours did they work or study?
Her conclusion: Menstruation was a natural process, not a debilitating condition. Women could work, think, and achieve just as well during their cycles as at any other time. Her findings, published in her prize-winning essay, turned Victorian medical theories upside down.
Fighting the “Rest Cure”
Mary didn’t stop at theories—she challenged harmful medical practices, too. One of her most infamous opponents was Dr. S. Weir Mitchell, who popularised the “rest cure” for women diagnosed with hysteria or nervous exhaustion.
The treatment? Weeks or even months of bed rest, isolation, forced feeding, and a prohibition on intellectual or physical activity. Unsurprisingly, many women left this treatment worse off than when they started.
Mary believed in empowering women, not confining them. When Charlotte Perkins Gilman—author of The Yellow Wallpaper—sought her help after a failed rest cure, Mary prescribed something radically different: study, writing, creative expression, and even basketball. Gilman’s mental health improved, and her subsequent literary work became a cornerstone of early feminist thought.
A Life of Triumph and Tragedy
Mary’s personal life was as complex as her professional one. She married Dr. Abraham Jacobi, a pioneering paediatrician, and together they had three children. Tragically, only one survived infancy, and their son Marjorie died at the age of eight from diphtheria—a disease her husband specialised in but couldn’t cure in the pre-vaccine era.
Even in the face of such profound loss, Mary remained committed to her work. Diagnosed with a brain tumour in her early 60s, she documented her symptoms in painstaking detail, publishing a paper titled “Description of the Early Symptoms of the Meningeal Tumor Compressing the Cerebellum. From Which the Author Died. Written by Herself.” Her dedication to medicine lasted until her final days.
Why Does Dr. Mary Putnam Jacobi Matter Today?
Mary’s work isn’t just a relic of history—it’s a blueprint for challenging outdated narratives. The myths she fought against—about women’s physical and intellectual limitations—haven’t entirely disappeared.
Even today, women’s health is often misunderstood or dismissed. The fight for equal opportunities in science, medicine, and leadership continues. Mary’s story reminds us that these battles can be won with evidence, persistence, and courage.
But perhaps most importantly, her life is an inspiration. Mary didn’t just break barriers—she rebuilt them, paving the way for others to follow.
Conclusion: Remembering a Trailblazer
Dr. Mary Putnam Jacobi once said she wanted to be remembered with affection. Today, we owe her more than that—we owe her recognition.
She was a pioneer who refused to accept limitations, proving that women could achieve greatness in medicine, science, and beyond. By honouring her story, we not only celebrate her legacy but remind ourselves of the progress we can still make.
Let’s keep her memory alive and continue her work—challenging the myths, rewriting the rules, and making space for the next generation of trailblazers.
Blessed Be Dr. Mary Putnam Jocobi!
Primary Sources
Mary Putnam Jacobi’s Prize-Winning Essay: "The Question of Rest for Women During Menstruation" (1876)
Accessible via the Internet Archive: https://archive.org/details/questionofrestfo00jaco
Books
"The Cure for Women" by Lydia Reeder (2024)
Details Dr. Jacobi's influence on women’s health and Victorian medicine.
Available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Cure-Women-Challenge-Victorian-Medicine-ebook/dp/B0CQHLPYL1
Articles
The New York Times: "She Revolutionized Medicine. Why Isn’t She a Household Name?" (Dec 6, 2024)
Offers a modern perspective on Dr. Jacobi's legacy.
Accessible here: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/06/books/review/the-cure-for-women-lydia-reeder.html
Archival Resources
The New York Academy of Medicine
Holds records of Dr. Jacobi's work as the first female fellow.
Explore their collections: https://www.nyam.org/library/
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