Page 326

“Simpson published a book…”

Simpson goes on for some time likening Sims’s surgery to Gosset’s.

Simpson, J. Y., & Simpson, A. R. (1863). Clinical lectures on the diseases of women. Philadelphia: Blanchard and Lee, p. 40.

“…all that remained was Mettauer’s procedure.”

Simpson, J. Y., & Simpson, A. R. (1863). Clinical lectures on the diseases of women. Philadelphia: Blanchard and Lee, p. 34.

“…the operation would be reprobated…”

“Chronic Inflammation of the Os and Cervix Uteri,” George Goldsmith, British Medical Journal, January 17, 1863, Vol. 1, p. 62.

“…certain French physicians…”

See “…the duchess now arranged the approval needed…,” above.

“…he performed the operation only once in France.”

I have assumed that this case came first.

Sims, J. M. (1990). Silver sutures in surgery; together with Clinical notes on uterine surgery. Birmingham, Ala: Classics of Obstetrics & Gynecology Library, p. 341.

“Within three months…”

Sims, J. M. (1880). Pregnancy-vomiting. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, p. 5.

“…severe emetic action…”

Sims, J. M. (1880). Pregnancy-vomiting. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, p. 5.

“…fitted her with a pessary.”

Sims, J. M. (1880). Pregnancy-vomiting. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, p. 5.

“…visits to Baden-Baden.”

Sims, J. M. (1880). Pregnancy-vomiting. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, p. 5.

“…advised therapeutic abortion.”

Sims, J. M. (1880). Pregnancy-vomiting. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, p. 5.

“…a renowned accoucheur…”

Sims, J. M. (1880). Pregnancy-vomiting. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, p. 5.

“…the woman was dead.”

Sims, J. M. (1880). Pregnancy-vomiting. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, p. 6.

“…attributing the tragedy to the young American surgeon…”

Despite extensive searching, I was unable to locate any public account of this story in France. I cannot conceive, however, why Sims would find it to his advantage to create a fiction of a scandal of this kind when there wasn’t one.

Sims, J. M. (1880). Pregnancy-vomiting. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, p. 6.