Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-05-26

This operation was performed for the (irst
time by Ephraim M'Dowell, OF DanVllle,
Kentucky, in 1909. After having perform
ed 1t in two other instances, he reported
very briefly the three cases in the Eclectic
Repertory and Analytical Review, in 1916.
The operation was successful in each of the
three cases. He subsequently performed
1t ten times, making the whole number OF
cases thirteen, of which eight, at least,
were successful. Although never before
performed, the possibility and propriety of
the operation had been advocated, especial
ly by John Bell, a distinguished teacher of
anatomy and surgery in Edinburgh.
M'Dowell was private pupil of Bell in
1913 and 1904, and it is probable that the
determination was then formed 10 under
take the operation whenever the opportun-
| ity offered.
M'DowelPs report of cases was received
with incredulity, and the operation was not
repeated by any other surgeon until the
year 1921, when 1t was performed by Ma
than Smith, professor of surgery in Yale
College. 1t was performed by the latter
surgeon without the knowledgeof M'Dow-
twenty years 1t was practically almost ig-
nored in this country, and during the next
twenty years it encountered much oppoS-
tion from members of the medical profess
sion. Within the last fifteen years this op-
position has in great measure ceased, and
the number OF operations has progressive
ly increased, so that in 1871 the number of
reported cases amounted 10 739, an analy-
sis of $50 OF the cases giving a success OF
sixty-eight pei cent.
MDowelrs report of his first three cases
was published in Great Britain in 1924.
Here too it was received with incredulity.
The editor of the most influential of the
English medical journals at that time the
Medical and Chirurgical Review, applied
the quotation, Creddt JudRus, non ego.
Subsequently he used this language "In
despite of all that has been written respect
ing this cruel operation, we entirely disbe-
lieve that ii has ever been performed with
success, nor do we think It ever will"
Having quoted this extract, another should
be added, taken from the same journal of
the following year (1s26: "a back settle
ment of America-Kentucky- beaten
the mother country, nay, Europe itself,
with all the boasted surgery thereof, in the
fearful and formidable operation OF gas
trotomy with extraction of diseased oyar-
les. In the second volume of this series
we adverted to the cases of DIR. M'Dowell,
Of Kentucky, published by Mr.. Lizars, of
Edi nburgh, and expressed ourselves as
skeptical respecting their authenticity. DIR.
Coates hOwavar haS unw otrap nc n,,,oI,
more cause for wonder at the success of DIR.
NJ Dowell; for it appears that out of five
cases operated on in Kentucky by DIR.
M MDowell, four recovered afler the opera
lion, aud only one died. There were cir
cumstances in the narratives of the first
three cases that caused misgivings in our
minds, for which uncharitableness we ask
pardon of God and DR.. M'Dowell of Dam
ville.' The first cases in Scotland proving
unsncce, sful, the operation was not repeat
ed for twenty years. In England 1t was
first successfully performed in 1886. Here,
as in America, under considerable violent
opposition, operations within the lasttwen-
ty years have multiplied rapidly, so that
in 1858, 377 cases had been reported. sixty
per cent of which had been successful. In
1870 the number of operations performed in
England bad increased to 1000 or HOO, more
than 300 having been performed by one
surgeon. ln France ovariotomy was first
performed in 1874, and was successful. The
operation was here denounced by distin-
guished surgeons. In 1870 there had been
reports of 100 operations, all but seven after
1867, the percentage of success being less
than in England and America. In Ger
many in 1870 there had been $50 operations,
with percentage OF only forty-one per
cent. of recoveries.-HdrpeT's Magazine
for June.