War: WWII Flashcards
How were blood transfusions developed during WWII?
The use of plasma was first suggested in 1918
There was a Blood for Britain campaign in the USA led by Dr Charles Drew. Blood was collected in NY and sent to Britain.
The mass production of dried plasma was developed
How was tetanus solved during WWII?
Anti-tetanus serum first used in WW1
A vaccine was first developed in 1924
WW2 tetanus vaccination – largest scale of vaccinations given to troops. Of the 17000 troops injured at Dunkirk, none got tetanus
How was plastic surgery developed during WWII?
Developed during WW1 and the work of Gillies
Archibald McIndoe (who had worked with Gillies) developed better techniques. For example, burns victim had treated with tannafax acid and tannifax jelly but McIndoe changed this to saline baths, which had fewer complications. Airmen who survived the burns and the operations later formed the ‘Guinea Pig Club’ as a tribute to Archibald McIndoe.
How was infection solved during WWII?
Penicillin had been discovered in 1928
WW2 saw more potent strains developed and mass produced in the USA and Britain
Mass production of sulphonamides which were effective against several infections
Fighting in the Pacific meant malaria was a problem. Atabrine was developed by the USA and Mepacrine by Britain as an anti-malarial drug
How was pain solved during WWII?
Morphine used as a painkiller and injected into patient
How did government action solve problems during WWII?
In 1939, all hospitals in Britain were brought under central control for the first time.
The health of the nation became very important and rationing was intended to ensure that all people received the right amount of nourishment.
In September 1939 and again in April 1940, hundreds of thousands of children were evacuated from inner city areas to the countryside. One effect was that the state of health of these children became apparent for the first time. In 1941, the Women’s Institute published a report describing the condition of evacuees. This was one reason why the Beveridge Report was published in 1942.
Beveridge Report 1942 recommended NHS and welfare state. Beveridge recommended that the people of Britain should be protected from Five Giant Evils; Squalor, Ignorance, Want, Idleness and Disease.
Mass bombing and egalitarian effects of rationing and evacuation led to calls for implementation
National Insurance Act
National Assistance Act
NHS set up in 1946
