Anarcha Westcott (real name Annacay Jackson) was a 13-year-old slave instrumental in the creation of the medical field of gynecology. Instrumental… because she was the instrument. Dr. J. Marion Sims of Alabama performed 30 experimental surgeries on her — without anesthesia — in order to repair her horrific fistulas after a stillbirth at 13 years old. And the surgeries worked. Thanks to Annacay enduring the nightmare that was 1840s medicine, women’s health was advanced tremendously. But holy sh*t did she have to endure.

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Rob Fox
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Dan Regester
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