Women in Nursing History

I have found women in nursing history to be a very interesting topic of discussion.

I would like to write about three women, Helen Fairchild, Mary Seacole, and Mary Eliza Mahoney, who have peaked my interest in the history of nursing and the army.

Helen Fairchild was the first African American nurse to work in the army over seas. Helen graduated from the Pennsylvania Hospital in 1913. On the out break of the first world war, Fairchild and 63 other nurses from Pennsylvania Hospital signed to serve in Europe. After arriving Fairchild was sent to"Casualth Clearing Station No.4". Fairchild began suffering from severe abdominal pain due to exposure to mustard gas, a poisonous gas used by the allies. Fairchild continued to work until before christmas in 1917 a barium meal revealed that a large gastric ulcer was obstructing her pylorus. She underwent a gastro-enterostomy operation January 13, 1918. Initially the surgery went well, but on the third day she began to detoriate, and after going into a coma, Helen died January 18, 1918. There are letters of interest written by Helen to her mother during her illness, posted on the web page for viewing.