Complete Record - Heirs of Hippocrates No. 1951

THOMAS ADDIS EMMET (1828-1919) The principles and practice of gynaecology. Henry C. Lea's Son & Co. 1884 3rd ed. xxiv [17]-876, 31 [1] pp., 150 illus. 23.5 cm.

Emmet was a foremost gynecologist and a major contributor to the development of modern gynecology in the United States. He received his medical education at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia and began his medical career as resident physician at the Emigrant Refuge Hospital on Ward's Island in New York City where he became visiting physician upon completion of his residency. He lost that position in 1855 through the vagaries of politics and was fortunate to meet Sims (see No. 1804), who appointed him assistant surgeon at the recently established New York Woman's Hospital. He became surgeon when Sims resigned in 1861, served as surgeon for ten years, and then was visiting surgeon until 1902. Emmet made many notable contributions to the field of plastic gynecological surgery. He is especially well known for his work in the surgery and management of vesicovaginal fistulas and lacerations of the cervix. Emmet showed that it was necessary to repair not only the superficial fascia but also the deeper tissues in cases of cystocele and rectocele; the modern operations for these conditions are based on Emmet's principles and teachings. Until the middle of the nineteenth century very few gynecological texts had been written specifically for the medical profession because gynecology was just developing as a specialty. Among the earliest gynecological texts published in the United States were those by Gunning S. Bedford (1806-1870) in 1855 and Sims' Clinical notes on uterine surgery in 1866 (see No. 1805). The first edition of the present work followed in 1879 and was described by Kelly (see No. 2218 ff.) as "the first thoroughly scientific, comprehensive work on this subject in English, being the condensed record of his large personal experiences" (Dictionary of American medical biography. New York, 1928. p. 383).

See Related Record(s): 1804 1805 2218