well, it was thought that when women were unwell that they were having a "hysterical" reaction. and they went off to see the doctor. rich ladies especially went off to see Freud and others like him because, as we all know, womens' illnesses are All In Their Minds.
even when my mother was pregnant with me she was told her upset stomach or post nasel drip was all in her head.
ok, i'm saying some of this with a bit of sarcasim, but basically, there was a point during those days (and many days after) when women were thought of as quaint creatures with unknown and unknowable illnesses.
it's one of the reasons I don't trust doctors (or lots of others snobs).