Amazon and Goodreads have different book covers. I prefer the simple blue cover.
Women Under the Knife ****
Ann Dally
An extremely fascinating
book. I found it both interesting and educational. The book is a
look backward at the historical approach that doctors, surgeons, and
later, specialists, took to learn and treat medical illnesses and
diseases that effected women.
To understand the current
issues women face today, the public would need to have better
knowledge of the history of how women were treated medically (and
socially!) in the past. Obstetrics and Gynecology became a very
important part of women's struggle for recognition as human beings
with choice, access to better care and control of their own body.
[Could we ever forget the blistering and painful mechanical restraints
used on women to curb masturbation?].
Very interesting reading
about pioneer surgeon, J. Marion Sims, early experimental surgeries
to repair vesico-vaginal fistula and recto-vaginal fistula.
After reading this book,
I agree with author, Ann Dally, that previous authors in history had
falsely labeled Dr Sims as a misogynist – stated that he treated
black female slaves inhumanely and with contempt. He truthfully
expressed that he did not “enjoy” working with the “female
anatomy” in part due to the odor.
This was true of EVERY
surgeon of that time period.
Untreated vesico-vaginal
fistula and recto-vaginal fistula were very much more common and
surgeons refused to do surgery to repair. Women spent their lives
ostracized due to the constant urine and/or fecal leakage from the
vagina. Imagine the humiliation and emotional as well as physical
suffering these women endured.
There is no doubt that
much was learned from the early surgeries, and treatment of the
female disease conditions has vastly improved – yet some of the
historical medical treatments were bizarre.
When previous authors
state Dr J. Marion Sims “tortured” black female slaves [while
performing surgical repair of vesico/recto fistula] ….. they are
inaccurate. Dr Sims SAVED these women and returned them to live a
normal life, no longer isolated, shamed and humiliated.
If you enjoy medical
books, like history, this is an excellent book to read.
I received the book free
in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my rating or
review.
My review will be posted
on amazon, goodreads, netgalley and moonshineartspot.blogspot
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