X-rays and Petit-Curies
During WWI, Curie heard of soldiers being injured on the battlefields because doctors were not able to perform surgeries and heal wounds as successfully as they needed to, as she states in her biography of her husband, entitled Pierre Curie (Marie Curie). This prompted Curie to being learning about William Roentgen's x-rays. She created a mobile x-ray unit inside of a car and called it a 'petit-curie'.
“Many doctors did not understand x rays and refused to use them. Others resented a woman telling them what to do.” (Lassieur 91)
While she was able to successfully create the mobile x-ray machines and operate them herself, they were considered to be unnecessary, most likely because she was a woman. They did not like the idea of men taking a woman's orders. However, she was persistent and eventually had about 20 petit-curies on the battlefield. She triumphed over the men who didn't want a woman in charge, a rare feat for the day. Her idea ended up being very successful for helping soldiers with bullets stuck in them or similar wounds. At first, some doctors would refuse to use the petit-curies because she made them, and not using them hurt the soldiers. They eventually gave in and used them, which helped the soldiers recover in the long run. Because of her persistance she was able to show the doctors that her machine was needed, which saved many lives.
Sources for this tab:
-Lassieur 91
-Lassieur
-Goldsmith
-Nobelprize.org
-M. Curie (Pierre Curie)
-Lassieur 91
-Lassieur
-Goldsmith
-Nobelprize.org
-M. Curie (Pierre Curie)