Dr. Ephraim McDowell, 'father of ovariotomy' : his life and his work / by August Schachner.

  • Schachner, August, 1865-1941.
Date:
[1913]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Dr. Ephraim McDowell, 'father of ovariotomy' : his life and his work / by August Schachner. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    DR. EPHRAIM McDOWELL, “ FATHER OP OVARI- OTOMY : HIS LIFE AND HIS WORK.* * .. j. By August Schachner, M. D., Louisville, Ivy. During a visit to Germany in the summer of 1911, I talked [153] with several Germans about Dr. Ephraim McDowell, and grew convinced that neither the man nor his work were as thoroughly understood as they deserve to be. This discovery became my chief reason for investigating Dr. McDowell’s life, and for my endeavor to prepare a clear presentation of him and his work. In the present paper lack of time compels me to present the subject in a direct and concise form, foregoing in many [154] instances details of circumstances and reasons for reaching and holding certain conclusions. According to the family tradition, the ancestors of Dr. Ephraim McDowell emigrated from Scotland to North Ire- land, during the Protectorate of Cromwell, about the middle of the seventeenth century. Ephraim McDowell, the great-grandfather of Dr. Ephraim McDowell, fought in the English Revolution. At the age of 16 he was one of the Scotch-Irish Presbyterian defenders of Londonderry, during the troubles in 1688, and aided in re- sisting the besieging forces of James II in the memorable siege of 1689. His wife was Margaret Irvine, his first cousin. With his two sons, John and James, and his daughters Mary and Margaret, he emigrated to America, landing in Pennsyl- vania. It is believed that his wife died in Ireland. The date of his arrival in Pennsylvania, where he remained several years, is unknown, possibly, as thought by some, September 4, 1729. * Paper read before The Johns Hopkins Hospital Historical Club, December 9, 1912. (l)