Health Problems
The soldiers faced lots of injuries and disease during their time in the trenches. These problems affected their performance during the battle, however, as a sign of heroism, they persevered and continued to fight for their country. Below are some of the diseases that the men had to face during their time in the front line.
rat infestation
During the time in the trenches, there were to types of rats; the brown and the black rat. The brown rat was the most feared by all the soldiers as it would grow to the size of a cat. The main reason was because they would gorge themselves on the remains of a human, disfigure the body of a dead soldier by eating the eyes and liver. At night, the rats would occasionally scamper across the faces of the sleeping soldiers. The soldiers tried to get rid of them by gunfire or clubbing them to death, however, this was all in vain. Rats infected the trenches in millions as a single rat couple could produce up to 900 offspring in a year. The rats were also good at spreading infection and contaminating the food. Some Veteran soldiers would say that the rats could sense the enemy's shellfire and would disappear from sight, aiding the soldiers.
frogs, lice and worse
Lice were a never-ending problem, the bred in the seams of filthy clothing and caused the men to itch unceasingly. They created a sour; stale smell as well. Even when the clothes were periodically washed and deloused, the lice eggs remained hidden in the seams. The lice also caused Trench Fever, a disease that began with a severe pain then finished with a high fever. Recovering, when away from the trench, took up to 12 weeks.
Frogs were found in the score in shell holes cover in water, they were found at the base of trenches. Slugs and beetles with horns were found on the side of the trenches.
Many men chose to shave their head entirely so they would avoid getting nits.
Frogs were found in the score in shell holes cover in water, they were found at the base of trenches. Slugs and beetles with horns were found on the side of the trenches.
Many men chose to shave their head entirely so they would avoid getting nits.
Soldiers using cigarettes to kill lices in the seams.
trench foot
Trench foot was an another peculiar medical condition to trench life. Trench life included a battle against water and mud constantly so duck boards were placed at the bottom of the trenches to protect the men from trench foot.
Trench foot is a fungal infection of the foot and it is caused by cold, wet and unsanitary trench conditions. It could turn gangrenous and end up in amputation. It was more of a problem at the start of the trench warfare; as conditions improved in 1915 it rapidly faded, although there was a trickle of cases over the rest of the war.
Trench foot is a fungal infection of the foot and it is caused by cold, wet and unsanitary trench conditions. It could turn gangrenous and end up in amputation. It was more of a problem at the start of the trench warfare; as conditions improved in 1915 it rapidly faded, although there was a trickle of cases over the rest of the war.
Trench Fever
Trench fever is normally a 5 day fever. The symptoms are severe pain, a high fever, pain on moving the eye balls, sore back and leg muscles and frequently hyperaesthesia of the shins. The constant symptom is pain in the shins. Recovery takes a month or more. Lethal cases are rare but if it does happen, the persistent fever might lead to a heart failure.