1809

Ephraim McDowell performs first ovariotomy (in Danville, KY) on Jane Todd Crawford, removing a tumor that was partly cystic (15 lbs) and partly solid (7.5 lbs) in about 25 minutes (Schachner, 61ff.). “To recognize McDowell (as first surgeon to perform an ovariotomy) sent a message to Europeans that Americans were in fact the original gynecologists” (McGregor, 160).