"Each naked, unanesthetized slave woman had to be forcibly restrained by others through her shrieks of agony as Sims determinedly sliced, then sutured her genitalia."
"Notwithstanding repeated failures during four years' time, he kept his six slaves as patients and operated until he tired out his doctor assistants, and finally had to rely upon his patients (slaves) to assist him to operate on other patents (slaves)."
"Sims conducted experimental surgery on each of the slaves he purchased several times, including operating on Anarcha thirty times before the "repair" of her fistulas was declared a success."
"Belief at the time was that black people did not feel as much pain as white people. Given this, Sims did not anesthetize."
"Sims also thought trismus nascentium developed from skull bone movement during protracted births. To test this, Sims used a shoemaker's awl to pry the skull bones of enslaved infants into alignment."
"He frequently performed surgery for what were considered gynecological issues: such as clitoridectomies, then believed to control hysteria or improper behavior related to sexuality. These were done at the requests of the women's husbands or fathers, who were permitted under the law to commit the women to surgery involuntarily."