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The Western Front (Injuries & illness (Gas attacks: They caused…
The Western Front
Injuries & illness
Gas attacks: They caused temporary blindness, coughing and burns. In 1915 soldiers were given gas masks.
Head injuries: They were common and mostly caused by shrapnel. The soft helmets were replaced with Brodie Helmets.
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Trench Fever: Flu like symptoms caused by lice that keep coming back. In 1918 tropps were deliced to reduce cases.
Trench foot: Caused by standing in waterlogged trenches, it could lead to gangrene and treated with amputation.
High explosive shells: The main cause of injuries, able to remove limbs and causing internal injuries as well as shrapnel.
Medicine & Treatments
X-Rays: In 1895 Wilhelm Roentgen covered a tube in black paper and was surprised to find that the rays from the tube lit up a screen. He tested with multiple materials and found it pierced through flesh and not bone. Then he placed photographics paper between the tube and his hand to create an X-Ray image.
Blood Transfusions: In 1829 James Blundell performed the first human to human blood transfusion, but blood had to be directly transfered from the donor to recipient and couldn't be stored. In 1901 Karl Landsteiner discovered three blood groups and in 1902 a fourth was found. In 1915 Richard Lewisohn found adding sodium citrate to blood allows blood to be stored shortly, and in 1916 Rous & Turner added citrate glucose to make it last longer.
Aseptic surgery: Operating Theatres and wards were thouroughly cleaned and doctors wore sterilised clothing. Sterilised cloths covered equipment and masks were warn to prevent the passing on of disease. In 1878 Robert Koch developed a steam steriliser for equipment and in 1890 anyone touching a patient wore gloves.
Thomas splint: From December 1915 the splint reduced death from broken limbs from 80% to less than 20%.
Battles
First Battle of Ypres (November 1914): British held Ypres, but Germans gained ground.
Second battle of Ypres (May 1915): Germans made slightly more progress and was the first time chlorine gas was used.
The Somme (July-November 1916): High casualties on both sides. The first use of tanks and the creeping barrage.
Arras (April-May 1917): The British linked underground tunnels, quarries and caves for shelter. These tunnels were used for the attack, and the battle ended with high casualites on both sides.
Third battle of Ypres (July-November 1917): Small progress was made by the British, but the ground was waterlogged and some drowned.
Camrai (November-December 1917): Large use of tanks, but without reinforcements the British had to retreat.
RAMC & FANY
FANY: Made of volunteers who mostly drove ambulances, cooked and cleaned.
Chain of Evacuation: Regimental aid post, close to the front line and did first aid.
Dressing stations were field ambulances and a mile back from the front line. They could look after men for a week.
CCS were miles from the front line and prioritised life threatening inuries.
Base hospitals were near ports and were well staffed.