Thomas was the first to perform and publish an account of vaginal ovariotomy (1870). He also published significant works on eye surgery, ovariotomy and bone transplantation. The older society was hostile to the performance of ovariotomy and other operations by obstetricians. McDowell was dubbed as the "father of ovariotomy". In 1846 he performed the first ovariotomy in Russia. He performed the first ovariotomy in Scotland in 1825. When McDowell performed the first ovariotomy, Goldsmith acted as his assistant. In 1887, she was forced to undergo an ovariotomy operation. The most famous of McDowell's sons was Dr. Ephraim McDowell, who performed the first ovariotomy. Tait's first success came with his demonstration that ovariotomy could be done safely. He established himself as a surgeon, and specialised in ovariotomy. On December 25, 1809, Dr. Ephraim McDowell performed this, the first ovariotomy, in his home. Keith performed his first ovariotomy in 1862, having learned the technique from Spencer Wells.