There was much to enjoy here, but I found I couldn't connect with it. I'd read more from this author in the future though.

This was a great read for seeing the history of surgery from a feminist perspective- which isn't often seen or heard. Looking through medical and social history at the same time might seem tedious but in reality the book is readable and accessible to just about anyone with an interest in either medicine or feminism. This is very well researched, well presented and very engaging. Might be a bit eye watering in places- but I would argue it's necessary to see the true hardship of history as lived by our generations of women.

"Women under the Knife" gives an overview over the development of gynecological surgery. Unfortunately, the writing isn't that good and I started skimming the pages after the first couple of chapters.

Well-researched and engagingly and accessibly written, this account of women and surgery is at times eye-wateringly graphic but always illuminating and often fascinating. It’s also quite disturbing at times, as although attitudes to women by the medical establishment are far more enlightened these days, especially since the profession of medicine has become available to women, the book is a timely reminder that some of the barbarities women have undergone in the past are still happening in some sectors of society even today. Medicine and misogyny seem to have gone hand-in-hand throughout history, unfortunately, and some of the procedures doctors and surgeons once considered necessary to the health and well-being of women simply beggar belief. I found the book completely gripping and learnt a great deal from it

Book received from NetGalley.

This book goes into how women have been treated historically by doctors. The start of medical science treating women's illness as hysteria and imagination. It shows how far we've actually come in women's medicine and how far we still have to go. It can be dry in parts but is something that should be read, especially by those who are still dealing with many doctors double standards.

Thought the cover calls it ‘an exceptionally enjoyable read’ I didn’t find it to my taste. This was a reprint of a book first published in 1980 and I’m not sure I would have chosen this book to save from the archives. Luckily I am not in charge of all books ever and I can understand why this book would be important. The sheer amount of information and the manner that it was discussed was too much for me both as a woman and as a lover of history in general. There is no sugar-coating and no shiny veneer on this past. It is all grit and gore. Author Ann Daly has put together a number of cases and interesting people who made up the medical community and their pasts. Though one reviewer was glad to not have emotional bias behind the writing, I feel as though there needed to be some acknowledgment of emotion behind the horrors. It is our emotions AND our logic that guide our morals. I would recommend this to someone with a strong stomach and an interest in early female medical practices. I would not recommend this as someone’s first foray into that world though.

*This eBook was provided by NetGalley and The Odyssey Press in exchange for honest feedback*

A fascinating study of women's role in medicine, as patients and study subjects. If I learned anything from this book, it's question everything.

This should be recommended reading in every medical school, as the role of women in medical history is so vital and necessary to modern medicine.

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

As a person interested in reading historical things I found this fascinating to read. As fascinating as it was to read I'll admit it was hard to read as well. Some procedures I read about will stay in my memory for a long time! In the primitive days of medicine ,women and slaves were considered inferior and a lot of medical experiments were conducted on them. The inferior women were considered to feel less pain than men. Women were subject to many gynecological experiments as well. One doctor removed both of his daughter's ovaries as a way to keep her from wanting to go out at night. When primitive medicine was practiced they did not want to cut into the patient's abdomen, or brain. In the American Civil war almost all abdominal and head wounds were fatal. This book was very fascinating to read but I am so glad we have made so many medical advancements and continue to make them.
Pub Date 24 Feb 2017
Thank you to NetGalley and Endeavour Press for providing me with a review copy in exchange for my honest review.

It hurt to read this book, though I know it's all too true. Women remain the medical fields guinea pigs. All medicines and surgeries are designed for men first, then adapted to women and children. It's a fascinating history, however, and one every woman should read.