Conduct Unbecoming a Woman : Medicine on Trial in Turn-of-the-Century Brooklyn

In the spring of 1889, Brooklyn's premier newspaper, the Daily Eagle, printed a series of articles that detailed a history of midnight hearses and botched operations performed by a scalpel-eager female surgeon named Dr. Mary Dixon-Jones. The ensuing avalanche of public outrage gave rise to two trials--one for manslaughter and one for libel--that became a late nineteenth-century sensation. Vividly recreating both trials, Regina Morantz-Sanchez provides a marvelous historical whodunit, inviting readers to sift through the evidence and evaluate the witnesses. This intricately crafted and mesmerizing piece of history reads like a suspense novel which skillfully examines masculine and feminine ideals in the late 19th century. Jars of specimens and surgical mannequins became common spectacles in the courtroom, and the roughly 300 witnesses that testified represented a fascinating social cross-section of the city's inhabitants, from humble immigrant craftsmen and seamstresses to some of New York and Brooklyn's most prestigious citizens and physicians. Like many legal extravaganzas of our own time, the Mary Dixon-Jones trials highlighted broader social issues in America. It unmasked apprehension about not only the medical and social implications of radical gynecological surgery, but also the rapidly changing role of women in society. Indeed, the courtroom provided a perfect forum for airing public doubts concerning the reputation of one "unruly" woman doctor whose life-threatening procedures offered an alternative to the chronic, debilitating pain of 19th-century women. Clearly a extraordinary event in 1892, the cases disappeared from the historical record only a few years later. Conduct Unbecoming a Woman brilliantly reconstructs both the Dixon-Jones trials and the historic panorama that was 1890s Brooklyn.

in The Spring Of 1889, A Burgeoning Brooklyn Newspaper, The daily Eagle, Printed A Series Of Articles That Detailed A History Of Midnight Hearses And Botched Operations Performed By A Scalpel-eager Female Surgeon Named Dr. Mary Dixon-jones. The Ensuing Avalanche Of Public Outrage Gave Rise To Two Trials—one For Manslaughter And One For Libel—that Became A Late Nineteenth-century Sensation.
Vividly Recreating Both Trials, Regina Morantz-sanchez Provides A Marvelous Historical Whodunit, Inviting Readers To Sift Through The Evidence And Evaluate The Witnesses. conduct Unbecoming A Woman Is Mesmerizing As An Intricately Crafted Suspense Novel. Jars Of Specimens And Surgical Mannequins Became Common Spectacles In The Courtroom, And The Roughly 300 Witnesses That Testified Represented A Fascinating Social Cross-section Of The City's Inhabitants, From Humble Immigrant Craftsmen And Seamstresses To Some Of New York And Brooklyn's Most Prestigious Citizens And Physicians. Like Many Legal Extravaganzas Of Our Own Time, The Mary Dixon-jones Trials Highlighted Broader Social Issues In America. It Unmasked Apprehension About Not Only The Medical And Social Implications Of Radical Gynecological Surgery, But Also The Rapidly Changing Role Of Women In Society. Indeed, The Courtroom Provided A Perfect Forum For Airing Public Doubts Concerning The Reputation Of One Unruly Woman Doctor Whose Life-threatening Procedures Offered An Alternative To The Chronic, Debilitating Pain Of 19th-century Women.
Clearly A Extraordinary Event In 1892, The Cases Disappeared From The Historical Record Only A Few Years Later. conduct Unbecoming A Woman Brilliantly Reconstructs Both The Dixon-jones Trials And The Historic Panorama That Was 1890s Brooklyn.

new York Times Book Review - Patricia C. Cohen

regina Morantz-sanchez Has Plumbed This Story Deeply To Elaborate Its Meanings Both For The History Of Medicine And The History Of Women. She....has Successfully Re-engaged Us With Fascinating Debates About Medicine And Women In An Era Long Gone.

In the spring of 1889, a burgeoning Brooklyn newspaper, the Daily Eagle, printed a series of articles that detailed a history of midnight hearses and botched operations performed by a scalpel-eager female surgeon named Dr. Mary Dixon-Jones. The ensuing avalanche of public outrage gave rise to two trials--one for manslaughter and one for libel--that became a late nineteenth-century sensation. Vividly recreating both trials, Regina Morantz-Sanchez provides a marvelous historical whodunit, inviting readers to sift through the evidence and evaluate the witnesses. "Conduct Unbecoming a Woman" is as mesmerizing as an intricately crafted suspense novel. Jars of specimens and surgical mannequins became common spectacles in the courtroom, and the roughly 300 witnesses that testified represented a fascinating social cross-section of the city's inhabitants, from humble immigrant craftsmen and seamstresses to some of New York and Brooklyn's most prestigious citizens and physicians. Like many legal extravaganzas of our own time, the Mary Dixon-Jones trials highlighted broader social issues in America. It unmasked apprehension about not only the medical and social implications of radical gynecological surgery, but also the rapidly changing role of women in society. Indeed, the courtroom provided a perfect forum for airing public doubts concerning the reputation of one "unruly" woman doctor whose life-threatening procedures offered an alternative to the chronic, debilitating pain of 19th-century women. Clearly a extraordinary event in 1892, the cases disappeared from the historical record only a few years later. "Conduct Unbecoming a Woman" brilliantly reconstructs both the Dixon-Jones trials and the historic panorama that was 1890s Brooklyn Regina Morantz-Sanchez recreates two trials in which Dr Mary Dixon Jones is accused of manslaughter and libel due to two botched operations. The result is a historical whodunnit, with readers invited to sift through evidence and evaluate witnesses The author presents the case of surgeon Dr. Mary Dixon-Jones, who in 1889 Boston was the subject in two court cases -- one for manslaughter and the other for libel -- which became a 19th century sensation.