Medical conditions in the trenchesImage of Trench Foot from: http://thegreatwarrevealed.weebly.com/trench-warfare-in-ww1.html
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The living conditions of the soldiers in the trenches consisted of floods, infections, mud, dirt, and unstable living. The biggest problem of trench warfare for doctors and medics was Trench foot a fungal infection of the foot formed by prolonged exposure to damp, cold conditions allied with poor environmental hygiene (firstworldwar.com, 2009). How the medics and doctors would treat trench foot was by creating water and chlorine solution in which the soldier’s feet would be bathed in. The soldier’s cloths would be fumigated and the soldiers would have to have regular bathing during rotations (World War 1). Some other problems in the trenches were that rats which would bring lice to the soldiers which made the lice would lay their eggs in the stitching and seems of the soldiers cloths. The rats would crawl around all night long nesting in the walls of the trenches and going to the toilet on and around the soldiers. One of the biggest problems of World War 1 for medicine was that there was none which meant that even a cut would result in amputation. The First World War created a list of medical classifications which consisted of;
CODE MEANING/CLASSIFICATION A Fit for general service A3 Physically fit, but in need of hardening B1a4 Medically fit, but dentally unfit B1a3, B1a2, B1a1 Temporarily unfit for general service for less than six months but fit for training. The degree fitness for training varies and is least in ‘B1a1’ B1b Temporarily unfit for general service for less than six months; Fit for home service B2a Temporarily unfit for general service for more then six months; fit for home service B2b Temporarily unfit for general service for more than six months; temporarily unfit for home service C1 Permanently unfit for general service; fit for home service C1Aust (October 1917 – Early 1918) Permanently unfit for general service; fit for home service in Australia. C2 Permanently unfit for genera service; temporarily unfit for home service C3 Permanently unfit for general service; permanently unfit for home service (Anzac dat Commonoration committed (QLD) Inc, 2002) Although most of the damage to people in the war was because of gun fire, shots, wounds and other injuries most soldiers during the war had a lot psychological damage in the form of "Shell Shock". "Shell Shock" occurred to soldiers who had been under heavy bombardment/gun fire. This condition was not understood at the time, the symptoms included fatigue, irritability, headaches and finally lack of concentration. Most of the soldiers could not continue their duties on the front lines of the war and were sent home; this was because the soldiers would suffer from metal breakdowns. Some sufferers of shell shock refused to follow orders and would wander around deserting the trenches committing suicide. Some soldiers were reduced to shivering wrecks and were sent home for rehabilitation. "Shell Shock" was not originally recognised as an official medical problem and also all high ranking officials believe that all the sufferers were cowards in which who wanted to get away from the fighting/war. The punishment for the soldiers that suffered shell shock was harsh but it ranged from court-martials to finally execution (Cheng, 2008). |