Ephraim McDowell House
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Dr. Ephraim McDowell House | |
.jpg) Dr. Ephraim McDowell House and Apothecary | |
   | |
| Location | 125–127 S. 2nd St., Danville, Kentucky |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 37°38′42″N 84°46′16″W / 37.64500°N 84.77111°W |
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1795 |
| Architectural style | Federal style |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000355 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966[1] |
| Designated NHL | January 12, 1965 |
The Dr. Ephraim McDowell House, also known as McDowell House, was a home of medical doctor Ephraim McDowell.
The home was declared a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 1966 for its role as the site of the world's first ovariotomy, performed without anesthesia by Dr. McDowell in 1809.[2]
Ephraim McDowell (November 11, 1771 – June 25, 1830) was an American physician.
He was born in Rockbridge County, Virginia and moved with his family to Danville, Kentucky in 1784. He studied under Dr. Humphrey in Staunton, Virginia, then attended lectures in medicine at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, from 1793 to 1794 and studied privately with John Bell. In 1795. he returned from Scotland, settled in Danville, Kentucky and began his practice as a surgeon.[3]
Dr. McDowell played a prominent role in his community. He was a founder of Trinity Episcopal Church in Danville and a founder and original corporator of Centre College in Danville. Dr. McDowell became a member of the Philadelphia Medical Society in 1817.[3]
He removed a urinary stone and repaired a hernia for James K. Polk.[4]
On December 13, 1809, Dr. McDowell diagnosed an ovarian tumor in Jane Todd Crawford of Green County, Kentucky, In his house on Christmas morning, 1809, Dr. McDowell removed a 22.5-pound (10.2 kg) tumor without anesthetic or antisepsis. Mrs. Crawford made an uncomplicated recovery, returning to her home 25 days later and living another 32 years. This was the first successful removal of an ovarian tumor in the world.[5]
