Scholars Argue Over Legacy of Surgeon Who Was Lionized, Then Vilified - New York Times

Scholars Argue Over Legacy of Surgeon Who Was Lionized, Then Vilified - New York Times:

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By all accounts, Sims, like a vast majority of his antebellum Southern white counterparts, was a strong proponent of slavery.

Thus, when Sims wanted fistula patients, he simply bought or rented the slaves from their owners.

Sims operated on at least 10 slave women from 1846 to 1849, perfecting his technique. It took dozens of operations before he finally reported success, having used special silver sutures to close the fistulas. Three of the slaves -- Lucy, Anarcha and Betsy -- all underwent multiple procedures without anesthesia, which had recently become available. Sims's records show that he operated on Anarcha 30 times.

Sims's persistence aroused some alarm, and several physicians urged him to stop experimenting. In response, he later reported that the slave women had been ''clamorous'' for the operation and had even assisted him with surgery.