Injuries and illness

Question 1

Describe the gas attacks

Answer 1

• Not a major cause of death
• Mostly temporary blindness and burns
• In July 1915 gas asks were given to everyone
• Before this, they protected themselves with cotton pads soaked with urine

Question 2

Describe the head injuries

Answer 2

• common and mostly caused by shrapnel

- By late 1915 the soldiers soft caps were replaced with Brodie helmets which reduced head wounds

Question 3

Describe shell shock

Answer 3

• Caused a wide range of symptoms
• Some sufferers were accused of cowardice
• Many were treated close to the front but some were evacuated to British hospitals

Question 4

Describe trench fever

Answer 4

• This produced flu-like symptoms which could last for months
• Was caused by lice
• In 1918 troops were de-loused which reduced cases

Question 5

Describe trench foot

Answer 5

• Was caused by standing in waterlogged trenches
• Could lead to gangrene treated with amputation
• Soldiers were given whale oil and spare socks
• Pumps were used to train and duckboards were added for soldiers to keep their feet above the water

Question 6

What could the bullets do?

Answer 6

• Bullets from rifles and machine guns could fracture bones

- Injured many soldiers

Question 7

What could high-explosive shells and shrapnel do?

Answer 7

• They were responsible for most deaths and injuries

- They removed limbs and caused major internal injuries

Question 8

Describe wound infection

Answer 8

• This was a major problem as soil contained tetanus and gas gangrene bacteria
• From late 1914 tetanus injections were given but there was no prevention for gas gangrene