Page 187

“…to speak with the great Dr. Francis.”

Sims says its Francis who sends him to both Mott and Stevens, but, as noted above, Sims’s autobiography is quite sloppy—not even his biographer accepted his version of these events.

SIMS, J. Marion, (1885). The Story of my Life, ed. by H. Marion-Sims. D. Appleton & Co: New York, p. 270.

“…successive specializations…”

Gross, S. D. (1893). Autobiography of Samuel D. Gross, M.D: With sketches of his contemporaries. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders, Vol. 2, p. 92.

“…one of the first presidents…”

“The Late John W. Francis, A.M., M.D., LL.D.,” Henri L. Stuart, Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper, March 9, 1861.

“…related to Francis Marion…”

“The Late John W. Francis, A.M., M.D., LL.D.,” Henri L. Stuart, Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper, March 9, 1861.

“…his Kappa Lambda association.”

See “…early leaders of the Kappa Lambda cabal,” above.

Years later, Alexander Stevens was sent a long, elaborately printed letter chastising him for his long-standing association with the Kappa Lambda, which after the formation of the AMA largely faded out of existence. The letter asserted that the group still formed a professional clique, and that Stevens should distance himself from its remnants. The letter was signed “Sholto Douglas,” or “Shol to Dhu Glas,” which translates as “See that dark grey man.” It’s a reference to the mythical founder of Scotland’s Douglas clan, I think. I believe it’s likely—but hardly proven—that Sims had a hand in the drafting and delivery of this letter.

“Some Account of a Secret Society in New York, Entitled the ‘Kappa Lambda,’ in a letter to Alexander Stevens, M.D., LL.D.” 

I found a copy of the letter at the National Library of Medicine at the National Institutes for Health in Bethesda, Maryland.

“…the very idea for the New York Academy of Medicine…”

Adams, J. G., & New York Academy of Medicine. (1871). Discourse commemorative of the life and character of Alex. Hodgdon Stevens, M.D., LL. D: Delivered by appointment of the N.Y. Ac ademy of Medicine, May 25, 1871. New York: Anson D.F. Randolph & Co, pp. 21-22.

“Stevens’ father…”

Adams, J. G., & New York Academy of Medicine. (1871). Discourse commemorative of the life and character of Alex. Hodgdon Stevens, M.D., LL. D: Delivered by appointment of the N.Y. Ac ademy of Medicine, May 25, 1871. New York: Anson D.F. Randolph & Co, p. 8.

“…the second president…”

See “…the very idea for the New York Academy of Medicine…,” above.

“…more than thirty years.”

Sims does not say that they discussed this case at their initial meeting, but it seems likely that they would have chatted about a case that had troubled Stevens for many years.

Sims, J. M. (1990). Silver sutures in surgery; together with Clinical notes on uterine surgery. Birmingham, Ala: Classics of Obstetrics & Gynecology Library, p. 126.

“He too was amused…”

See “The group chuckled heartily…,” above.

“…the New York College of Physicians and Surgeons…”

SIMS, J. Marion, (1885). The Story of my Life, ed. by H. Marion-Sims. D. Appleton & Co: New York, p. 271.

“…Mott mysteriously announced…”

SIMS, J. Marion, (1885). The Story of my Life, ed. by H. Marion-Sims. D. Appleton & Co: New York, p. 272.