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“…it was women who had saved Sims.”

Although Sims was still held in high regard when he left for Paris, the same tensions that turned the managers against Josiah Nott (see “…poorly mannered with patients…,” above) would likely have turned the newer managers against Sims as well. Notably, however, the earlier iteration of the manager board was well aware of criticism of Sims and was inclined, at that point, to speak on his behalf. As will be documented later, this was decidedly not the case after the Civil War.

From the January 7, 1860, meeting of the Woman’s Hospital Association. The minutes are held at the Arthur H. Aufses, Jr. Medical Archives and Mount Sinai Records office at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, New York.

 

“…the day’s leading actress.”


Merrill, L. (1999). When Romeo was a woman: Charlotte Cushman and her circle of female spectators. Ann Arbor, Mich: University of Michigan Press, p. xv.

“…Lady Macbeth…Meg Merrilies…”

Merrill, L. (1999). When Romeo was a woman: Charlotte Cushman and her circle of female spectators. Ann Arbor, Mich: University of Michigan Press, pp. 41, 43.

“…a lump in her breast.”

As is documented below, I believe that Sims helped Cushman disguise the nature of her illness. The contemporary correspondence doesn’t address the condition directly as cancer.

Merrill, L. (1999). When Romeo was a woman: Charlotte Cushman and her circle of female spectators. Ann Arbor, Mich: University of Michigan Press, p. 103.

“Sims had seen her in Paris…”

Sims’s visit with Cushman was unremarked upon at the time—I assume precautions were taken so that it was not widely known she was seeing doctors.

“Miss Charlotte Cushman’s Health—Letter from Dr. Sims,” J. Marion Sims, New York Times, October 3, 1869.

“…tincture of hydrastis…”

Letter from Charlotte Cushman to “Darling,” June 29, 1869, held in the Charlotte Cushman holdings at the Library of Congress.

“…water cures…”

See “…additional visits to water cures…” and “…quack water cures…,” above.

As documented below, Sims told her to go to Malvern, noted for its water.

Letter from Charlotte Cushman to “Darling,” June 28, 1869, held in the Charlotte Cushman holdings at the Library of Congress.

“…pigs’ blood.”

Letter from Charlotte Cushman to “Darling,” July 19, 1869, held in the Charlotte Cushman holdings at the Library of Congress.

“…it was a malignant tumor.”

Cushman refers to Simpson as Sir James.

Letter from Charlotte Cushman to “Darling,” August 19, 1869, held in the Charlotte Cushman holdings at the Library of Congress.

“…her only option for life…”

What’s notable here is that Sims advises surgery here—but in a few months’ time he will publicly state that he advised her against surgery completely.

Letter from Charlotte Cushman to “Darling,” August 24, 1869, held in the Charlotte Cushman holdings at the Library of Congress.

“A successful cancer operation…”

See “…only option for life…,” above.

I am speculating on Sims’s motives here—but in lying publicly about what he had advised Cushman to do, Sims invites a harsh scrutiny of what he was attempting to achieve. That he wanted to use Cushman to advance his own professional goals is consistent with everything that is known about him otherwise.

“…Simpson as her surgeon.”

Merrill, L. (1999). When Romeo was a woman: Charlotte Cushman and her circle of female spectators. Ann Arbor, Mich: University of Michigan Press, p. 236.

“…Sims hurried off a few lines…”

The New York Times, October 2, 1869.

“…a small hardened gland.”

See “A successful cancer operation…,” above.

I am again speculating about Sims’s motives, but again it seems likely—particularly given the fact that he gave it less than a day’s thought—that he was proceeding in a wholly mercenary fashion.

“Miss Charlotte Cushman’s Health—Letter from Dr. Sims,” J. Marion Sims, New York Times, October 3, 1869.