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' / by J. Marion Sims.

  • Sims, J. Marion (James Marion), 1813-1883.
Date:
1877
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: 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' / by J. Marion Sims. 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.

    18/28 (page 16)
    Fifteen gentlemen had registered their names, and gone nj) to the aniphitlieat]-e. \ our Board had on this occasion, (and for weeks previous), placed a man in the Hall to see that only fifteen doctors should be admitted. When Dr. Peaslee’s friend asked the man in authority to show him the way to tlie operating room, he was bluntly told he could not do it. Then said the gentleman, “ Please take my card to Dr. Peaslee, he invited me specially to come, and witness an operation that I would like to see. I am sure he would let me go up if he knew 1 were here.” The man replied, “ Sir, I am very sony, but I have no authority in the matter. Even Dr. Peaslee could not admit you now, for there are already fifteen doctors there, and 1 have orders to admit no more.” And thus Dr. Peaslee’s friend, and three or four other medical gentlemen who were fu-esent, and asking to be ad- mitted, were rudely thrust from the walls of this hospital, when common politeness, and the honor and interests of the hospital, demanded that they should have been kindlj^ re- ceived. Sir, such a breach of etiquette as this is injurious to the members of the Medical Board, who are bound by your ty- rannical decision, and it is detrimental to the interests of the hosjjital, which we all have at heart. Sir, you have taken the engineer—the man who runs the machine that keeps tins building warm in winter, and cool in summer—and plac^^d him as a spy over your Medical Board, to report to you any violation of your rule limiting the num- ber of spectators on operating days to fifteen. Sir, such an act as this is unworthy of the Board of Gov- ernors from which it emanates. For myself, I have never heeded your edict, and never will; and if you are aggrieved at this, you can liave my resignation at your next meeting, if you wish it.” I have reported this speech verbatim. Every word of it