Silver sutures in surgery / by J. Marion Sims.

  • J. Marion Sims
Date:
1858
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Silver sutures in surgery / by J. Marion Sims. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    me this distinguished honor; electing me in my absence, and without my knowledge or consent,— a compliment that I appreciate with all my heart; but a consciousness of my unfitness for the place ' prompted me at once to resign ; when such men as Mott, Francis, Stevens, Smith, Green, Griscom, White, and others opposed my withdrawal, agree¬ ing, (unofficially,) that my subject should be purely a professional one. Silver Sutures in Surgery, is a subject that necessarily involves frequent and constant reference to my own labors, and their results; indeed, it has been the theme of my life for the last twelve years. In selecting it I am not ignorant of the delicacy of my position, and of my liability to be misinterpreted, and to be criticised by some who do not know me as you do. Nevertheless I shall speak as an Amer¬ ican, plainly, frankly and fearlessly, feeling that you and the great mass of the profession will understand, and fully sustain me. So far as it concerns my ex¬ perience, personal narrative, claims as a discoverer, or defence against aggression, I have a right to de¬ clare them openly “from the house-tops; ” and for this in the abstract I hold myself responsible. But, whether the subject matter will be considered quite appropriate for the occasion, is a question only for the fastidiously censorious; and I shall dismiss that very summarily, by shifting its responsibility to the
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