In the spring of 1867, the year of Confederation, Emily Howard Stowe, 36 years of age, became Canada’s first practising female physician. She opened up her office at 26 Shuter Street in Toronto and advertised in The Globe on June 18, 1867.
Since there had never been a woman doctor, she didn’t know what to call herself. The ad read: MRS. DR. STOWE. By the end of the year she changed her title to MRS. E. H. STOWE M.D.
Other people now knew what to call Emily, but many still didn’t know what to think of her. Some thought she must be an eccentric. Others saw her as an intellectual filled with knowledge. Some people thought she was crazy.
Augusta age 10, John Howard age 6, and Frank age 4 found it strange to have a mother as a doctor, the only one in Canada. Augusta loved to watch her mother and wanted to follow in her footsteps. Frank couldn’t wait to climb aboard Emily’s carriage and ride off to visit the patients. Those who could afford it liked the doctor to come to their homes.
THE BLACK BAG
Emily travelled in her horse-drawn wagon with her doctor’s bag at her side. Doctors carried a black bag in which they kept a thermometer, a tongue depressor and a few other simple instruments. They visited patients in their own homes, where one room was often turned into a “sick room.” If unable to pay the doctor, a patient would offer something in return. This was called bartering or trading. Sometimes Emily went home with a live turkey instead of money.