Doctor or Doctress?

Explore American history through the eyes of women physicians

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Photograph of children receiving dental care at the AWH Hospital in Luzancy, France.

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“Across Battlefields and into Villages”: The American Women’s Hospitals in World War I France

World War I produced conflict and carnage, the likes of which had never been seen before.  France suffered devastating effects of the war being fought on its soil, including a severe humanitarian crisis resulting from the bombardment of villages near the constantly-moving front lines. The conditions of poor, rural villages already suffering from malnutrition and disease were exacerbated by the war.  After the armistice, the AWH doctors focused on civilian service, including preventive care such as inoculations against typhoid, improving sanitation, long-needed surgeries, and dental work.

The devastated areas in France suffered from years of lack of medical care due to the war.  After the war ended, AWH sought to not only solve the immediate problems of disease and poor sanitary conditions, they also worked to ensure that the people they treated received preventive care. They provided many – especially children – with dental care.

Creator: American Women's Hospitals

Language: english

Item Number: a144_124

Pages: 2

Size: 12.6 x 17.7cm

Physical Collection: Records of American Women`s Hospitals 1917-1982, ACC-144

Finding Aid: http://dla.library.upenn.edu/dla/pacscl/detail.html?id=PACSCL_DUCOM_WMSC144

Link to OPAC Record: http://innopac.library.drexel.edu/search/c?SEARCH=ACC-144

Cite this source: Title of document, date. The American Women’s Hospitals in World War I France: Across Battlefields and into Villages. Doctor or Doctress?: Explore American history through the eyes of women physicians. The Legacy Center, Drexel University College of Medicine Archives & Special Collections. Philadelphia, PA. Date of access. doctordoctress.org/islandora/object/islandora:1868

American Women's Hospitals

Women physicians--France

World War, 1914-1918--War work

World War, 1914-1918--Hospitals

Dentistry

Luzancy (France)