Page 298

“He traveled to Paris…”

SIMS, J. Marion, (1885). The Story of my Life, ed. by H. Marion-Sims. D. Appleton & Co: New York, p. 312.

“…rudimentary French…”

Sims’s meeting here is detailed further below.

“Reminiscences of Dr. J. Marion Sims in Paris,” Edmond Souchon, Medical Record, Vol. 46, No. 23, December 8, 1894, p. 705.

“…a wealthy clientele…”

My speculation as to Sims’s motives here are very much in keeping with what actually happened, and with the pecuniary motive that he attested to in his autobiography (see “…a cure that promised a profit…,” above).

“…plans to move the family to Paris…”

In his autobiography, Sims gave the impression that he was more in control of family matters than he actually was—in any event, his wife and daughters melded seamlessly into French aristocratic life as soon as they arrived in Paris, and it is consistent with what is in the record that Theresa would have been planning their move abroad long before Sims returned home in early 1862, as is documented below.

SIMS, J. Marion, (1885). The Story of my Life, ed. by H. Marion-Sims. D. Appleton & Co: New York, pp. 328, 416.

Letter from J. Marion Sims to Theresa Sims, November 29, 1861, held in the Southern Historical Collection at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill libraries.

“…a single letter for France…”

“Reminiscences of Dr. J. Marion Sims in Paris,” Edmond Souchon, Medical Record, Vol. 46, No. 23, December 8, 1894, p. 705.

“…incision of the cheek…”

See “…a curving incision…,” above.

“…the custom of humanity…”

This is from a brief biographical treatment of Velpeau’s life, one of many documents I had translated from the French so as to describe Sims’s time in Paris. I’ve lost the citation for this one but I believe this page contains the original language of Velpeau’s claim that obstetrics and midwifery should be a discrete field of medicine. I am including the translator’s approximation of the passage, as well.

“…Rue de l’Université…”

“Reminiscences of Dr. J. Marion Sims in Paris,” Edmond Souchon, Medical Record, Vol. 46, No. 23, December 8, 1894, p. 705.

“…lurk outside the hospital walls…”

This is from the student’s remembrance—I have changed the perspective.

“Reminiscences of Dr. J. Marion Sims in Paris,” Edmond Souchon, Medical Record, Vol. 46, No. 23, December 8, 1894, p. 705.

“…he overheard the student converse…”

“Reminiscences of Dr. J. Marion Sims in Paris,” Edmond Souchon, Medical Record, Vol. 46, No. 23, December 8, 1894, p. 705.

“…fitting himself into a white apron…”

“Reminiscences of Dr. J. Marion Sims in Paris,” Edmond Souchon, Medical Record, Vol. 46, No. 23, December 8, 1894, p. 705.

“…from New Orleans.”

“Reminiscences of Dr. J. Marion Sims in Paris,” Edmond Souchon, Medical Record, Vol. 46, No. 23, December 8, 1894, p. 705.

“…curer of vesico-vaginal fistula…”

See “…a single letter for France…,” above.

“Reminiscences of Dr. J. Marion Sims in Paris,” Edmond Souchon, Medical Record, Vol. 46, No. 23, December 8, 1894, p. 705.

“…well versed in his works.”

This episode suggests that doctors in England, Scotland, and Ireland expected Sims to be recognized for his work wherever he went.

SIMS, J. Marion, (1885). The Story of my Life, ed. by H. Marion-Sims. D. Appleton & Co: New York, p. 310.

“…what France knew of fistula…”

“Reminiscences of Dr. J. Marion Sims in Paris,” Edmond Souchon, Medical Record, Vol. 46, No. 23, December 8, 1894, p. 705.

“…in two weeks’ time.”

“Reminiscences of Dr. J. Marion Sims in Paris,” Edmond Souchon, Medical Record, Vol. 46, No. 23, December 8, 1894, p. 705.