1813-1888. Dr. James Marion Sims was a reknowed surgeon whose pioneering work in gynecological surgery saved numerous lives from vesicovaginal fistula, a danngerous injury resulting from childbirth. His work became so celebrated that he attended to European royals.
In 1855 he founded the first hospital for women in America, and one of the first of its kind anywhere in the world.
But his legacy does not come without controversy. It turns out that while perfecting his technique he would experiment on black slave women..WITHOUT ANESTHESIA. Although he saved many of them he later performed the same surgery on white women this time WITH anesthesia. Because of this he is widely regarded as a villain.
This statue of his likeness stands loftily on 5th Avenue and 103rd Street by Central Park. Designed by Ferdinand Von Miller in bronze it captures the loftiness of the period and the confidence screams through his gallant pose.
No comments:
Post a Comment