This short film tells the story of Ephraim McDowell (Jonathan Hale), the Kentucky physician who performed the first surgery on a woman in 1809. Based on fact, the film primarily focuses on the paranoia of the local townsfolk, who are so suspicious of McDowell that they're ready to lynch him. When his patient lives, McDowell is vindicated and accepted by the local residents.
The real Ephraim McDowell did perform surgery to remove a large ovarian tumor, and without anesthetic or sterile tools! His patient recovered and lived several more decades. The movie veers toward being pretty overripe, and there's narration instead of dialogue, but it's short, to the point, and watchable.
The real Ephraim McDowell did perform surgery to remove a large ovarian tumor, and without anesthetic or sterile tools! His patient recovered and lived several more decades. The movie veers toward being pretty overripe, and there's narration instead of dialogue, but it's short, to the point, and watchable.