‘Facts are more powerful than words’ James T. Haley, Afro-American Encyclopaedia, 1895 James Marion Sims: The Facts offers a unique and distinct study of medical literature from the 19th century, and commentaries of recent origin, regarding vaginal fistulae. The aim of the research was to compare those primary publications of almost two centuries ago with the current secondary sources in relation to certain key words or phrases, such as ‘anaesthesia’ ‘clothing’ ‘consent’ ‘naked and restrained’ ‘roles of assistants’ and others. The analysis of both the historic and recent literature was highly informative. Among the many discoveries were the names of eleven enslaved women who had fistula operations in the 19th century. Those women are not featured in modern writings. The teenager Amy McRee was one of them. Her successful fistula surgery was performed in October 1849 by James Marion Sims. Compiled and Edited by Dr. Michael O’Dowd, MD PhD FRCOG FRCPI FRSM FICOG (Honorary) DCH DA.