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James Marion Sims: some speculations and a new position

Caroline M de Costa
Med J Aust 2003; 178 (12) || doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2003.tb05401.x
Published online: 16 June 2003

This 19th century US gynaecologist still arouses controversy in the 21st century

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  • Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Cairns Base Hospital, Cairns, QLD.


Correspondence: 

  • 1. Sims JM. Silver sutures in surgery, the anniversary discourse before the New York Academy of Medicine. New York: Wood, 1858: 1-55.
  • 2. Harris S. Woman's surgeon. New York: Macmillan, 1950: 84-86.
  • 3. Kenny SC, Ward JL, Bryan CS. James Marion Sims and the rise of gynaecological surgery. J Med Biography 1999; 7: 217-223.
  • 4. McGregor DK. Female disorders and nineteenth century medicine: the case of vesico-vaginal fistula. Caduceus 1987; Spring: 1-87.
  • 5. Ojanuga D. The medical ethics of the "Father of Gynaecology" Dr J Marion Sims. J Med Ethics 1993; 19: 28-31.
  • 6. McGregor DK. From midwives to medicine — the birth of American gynecology. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 1998: 41-45.
  • 7. Sims JM. The story of my life. Edited by his son, H Marion-Sims. New York: Appleton, 1884: 15-27, 226-246.
  • 8. Morantz-Sanchez R. Conduct unbecoming a woman. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999: 92-97.
  • 9. Marr JP. Pioneer surgeons of the Woman's Hospital. Philadelphia: Davis, 1957: 28-43.
  • 10. Ricci JV. One hundred years of gynaecology. Philadelphia: Blakiston, 1945: 111-112.
  • 11. Speert H. James Marion Sims, the Sims position and the Sims speculum. In: Obstetric and gynecological milestones. New York: Parthenon, 1996: 481-487.
  • 12. Zacharin RF. A history of obstetric vesico-vaginal fistula. Aust N Z J Surg 2000; 70: 851-854.
  • 13. Moir JC. Personal experiences in the treatment of vesico-vaginal fistula. Am J Obstet Gynaecol 1956; 71: 478-491.
  • 14. Hamlin C. Newsletter from Dr Catherine Hamlin AC, Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital, Ethiopia. May 1998, Oct 1999, May 2000, Feb 2002.
  • 15. Murray C, Goh J, Fynes M, Carey M. Urinary and faecal incontinence following delayed primary repair of obstetric genital fistulae. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 2002; 109: 828-832.
  • 16. Sims JM. On the treatment of vesico-vaginal fistula. Am J Med Sci 1852; 23: 59-82.
  • 17. Pozzi S. A treatise on gynaecology. Vol I. London: The Sydenham Society, 1892: 250-255.
  • 18. Sims JM. Clinical notes on uterine surgery. New York: Wood, 1873: 49.
  • 19. Hunt L. Africa's forgotten women. ORGYN 1997; 1: 2-7.
  • 20. Kitz RJ, Vandam LD. A history and the scope of anesthetic practice. In: Miller RD, editor. Anesthesia. New York: Churchill Livingstone, 1986: 3-8.
  • 21. Chavasse HP. Advice to a wife on the management of her own health. London: Churchill, 1877: 225-226.

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