Page 379

“…the lady managers fired a doctor…”

McGregor, D. K., & McGregor, D. K. (1998). From midwives to medicine: The birth of American gynecology, p. 194.

“…a complete ban…”

In early 1874, there was a flurry of communication among the various administrative boards about the cancer and visitor questions. The Medical Board first tried to request a cap of 25 on visitors; the Board of Lady Supervisors insisted on 15. There are far too many instances in the record to cite here, but they are all located in the same place.

From the minutes of the January 12, 1874, meeting of the Woman’s Hospital Medical Board, held at the Arthur H. Aufses, Jr. Medical Archives and Mount Sinai Records office at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, New York.

Peaslee, E. R., Emmet, T. A., & Thomas, T. G. (1877). To the medical profession: Statements respecting the separation of Dr. J. Marion Sims from the Woman's Hospital, New York, p. 1.

“…investigation of rates of morality…”

McGregor, D. K., & McGregor, D. K. (1998). From midwives to medicine: The birth of American gynecology, p. 197.

“…a policy of weakness…”

All of these events came under public scrutiny several years later, during a period of time not depicted in this book. Sims’s colleagues objected strenuously to his characterization of what transpired.

Sims, J. M. (1877). The Woman's Hospital in 1874: A reply to the printed circular of Drs. E.R. Peaslee, T.A. Emmet, and T. Gaillard Thomas, addressed "To the medical profession," "May 5th, 1877". New York: Kent & Co., p. 10.

“…an insult to common intelligence…”

I am reading between the lines of a number of documents here, in speculating that the Board of Lady Managers had inferred that women were being experimented upon for the purpose of curing a condition that men suffered from as well. Even George T.M. Davis, however, was able to recognize that the argument that cancer was specific to women was duplicitous.

Davis, G. T. M. (1891). Autobiography of the late Col. Geo. T.M. Davis: Captain and aid-de-camp Scott's army of invasion (Mexico), from posthumous papers. Pub. by his legal representatives. New York: Press of Jenkins and McCowan, pp. 373-74.

“…Mrs. John Jacob Astor…”

Emmet’s characterization of these events have to be understood in light of the hostility he nursed, years later, for the Board of Lady Managers (see “…lacked reasoning power…,” above).

Emmet, T. A. (1911). Incidents of my life: Professional, literary, social; with services in the cause of Ireland. New York, Putnam, p. 196.

“…the Emmet Pavilion…”

Emmet, T. A. (1911). Incidents of my life: Professional, literary, social; with services in the cause of Ireland. New York, Putnam, pp. 194-95.

“…might take a decade or more…”

The new pavilion took only five years to complete—but Sims would have thought of it in terms of the construction of the current Pavilion (Wetmore), which he had received approval for in 1857, but did not open until 1868.

McGregor, D. K., & McGregor, D. K. (1998). From midwives to medicine: The birth of American gynecology, p. 198.

“…a cogent and manly argument…”

See “…a policy of weakness…,” above.

“…turned out to the street.”

See “…a policy of weakness…,” above.

“Sims remained silent.”

Sims’s peevishness is aptly demonstrated by his insistence that on not speaking he had failed to give his assent to the others’ decision. This would be a significant factor when his rates of mortality came under significant scrutiny. Had Emmet, Peaslee, and Thomas not insisted on making this point—and had Sims not objected to it, vocally or otherwise—it’s likely that he would have been able to go on operating recklessly at Woman’s Hospital.

Sims, J. M. (1877). The Woman's Hospital in 1874: A reply to the printed circular of Drs. E.R. Peaslee, T.A. Emmet, and T. Gaillard Thomas, addressed "To the medical profession," "May 5th, 1877". New York: Kent & Co., p. 10.

Peaslee, E. R., Emmet, T. A., & Thomas, T. G. (1877). To the medical profession: Statements respecting the separation of Dr. J. Marion Sims from the Woman's Hospital, New York, p. 1.