Dr. Ephraim McDowell: Frontier Surgeon at Locust Grove

On Christmas Day 1809 in Danville, Kentucky, a thousand miles from the nearest hospital and thirty-five years before the deveopment of anesthesia, Dr. Ephraim McDowell (1771-1830) removed a huge ovarian tumor from the abdomen of a Kentucky woman.  It was the world's first ovariotomy, and it eventually brought McDowell worldwide acclaim as the Father of Abdominal Surgery.

L. Henry Dowell, Chautauqua performer, will perform as Dr. Ephraim McDowell, Frontier Surgeon and Father of Abdominal Surgery on February 6, at Historic Locust Grove as part of the Afternoon Lecture Series. Dessert & coffee are served at 1:00 p.m. and the program begins at 1:15 p.m.