Alexander Skene

  Alexander Johnston Chalmers Skene (June 17, 1837–July 4, 1900) was a Scottish gynecologist who described what became known as the Skene's glands.

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Skene was born in Fyvie, Scotland on June 17, 1837. At the age of 19, he went to America. He studied medicine in Toronto, then Michigan, and finally at the Long Island College Hospital in Brooklyn graduating in 1863. After a brief military service he entered private practice in Brooklyn and advanced to become Professor of Disease of Women at Long Island College Hospital.

Skene wrote over 100 medical articles and several textbooks. He contributed many surgical instruments and improved on surgical techniques. Primarily, he is remembered for his description of the Skene's glands at the floor of the urethra. He also described their infection - skenitis.

As a sculptor, Skene created a bust of J. Marion Sims, which is on display in the lobby of the Kings County Medical Society. A bust honoring him is located in Prospect Park Plaza (also known as Grand Army Plaza).

Skene died in his summerhouse in the Catskills, New York on July 4, 1900.

See also

• Paraurethral glands
• Skene's gland

References

• Chesley LC: The evolution of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Downstate 1860-1980.

1981.