Medical conditions on the Western front

• Trench Fever


  -Caused by: body lice

  -Symptoms: flu like (high temperatures, headache, aching muscle)

  -Solutions: Delousing stations were set up
• Trench Foot


  Caused by: Standing in cold water or mud

  Symptoms: Painful swelling of the feet, eventually leading to gangrene (decomposition)

  Solutions: Rubbing whale oil on the feet; keeping dry and changing socks regularly; amputation(worst case)
• Gas Gangrene


  Caused by: Open wounds infected by bacteria from soil

  Symptoms: Dead tissue. The bacteria caused gas to build up in the wound

  Solution: Amputation of infected areas
• Shellshock


  Caused by: Psychological damage

  Symptoms: Tiredness, nightmares, headaches, loss of speech, shaking, mental breakdown

  Solutions: In some cases treatment back in Britain. Generally, shellshock was misunderstood and sufferers were often accused of cowardice
• Shrapnel Injuries


  Caused by: Being hit by bullets or shrapnel from rifles/explosions

  Symptoms: Pieces of metal would penetrate the body, taking with it parts of uniform, soil and dirt

  Solution: Steel Brodie Helmets were worn to protect the head
• Gas Attacks


  Caused by: Chlorine, phosgene and mustard gas

  Symptoms: Burning skin, internal and external blisters, death by suffocation. Massive psychological impact-fear and panic

  Solutions: Gas marks were developed in 1915