Table of Contents:
What is Trench Foot?....................................pg3 Causes of Trench Foot?.................................pg4 Symptoms and Treatment……………………pg5 Why does it affect the soldiers during the world war one?...............................................pg6 Bibliography……………………………………..pg7
What is Trench Foot?
Many soldiers who fought in the First World War suffered from trench foot. Trench foot is a medical condition caused by long period of time in wet, cold conditions such as waterlogged trenches (5). It is one of many immersion foot syndromes—resembling frostbite (3). The use of the word “trench” in the name of the disease is referencing to the trench warfare and it mainly happened on soldiers’ feet (5). During World War One trench foot was known for a “nonbattle casualties” (Bull .67). It can be quite painful, but it can be prevented and treated. This letter describes how painful it was to have trench foot and how easily soldiers could loose their feet and legs from this horrible “If you have never had trench foot described to you, I will explain. Your feet swell to two disease. to three times their normal size and go completely dead. You can stick a bayonet into them and not feel a thing. If you are lucky enough not to lose your feet and the swelling starts to go down, it is then that the most indescribable agony begins. I have heard men cry and scream with pain and many have had to have their feet and legs amputated. I was one of the lucky ones, but one more day in that trench and it may have been too late.” (Harry Roberts)
This was written by Sergeant Harry Roberts of the Lancashire Fusiliers, a soldier who suffered from trench foot but lucky enough to leave the front before it was incurable. This is a reliable source because it was written by Sergeant Harry Roberts of the Lancashire Fusiliers during the war, and he had seen how horrible agonies of having this disease were.
Historical Significance: Trench foot is remembered today because it was a painful disease that took soldiers’ lives to become cripple forever. In the winter of 1914, 20,000 soldiers got trench foot and that was just in the British army alone. It been memorialized because of the hardships that soldiers faced during the first world war to get rid of trench foot completely, but some soldiers did not make it out with their feet or legs
The Causes of Trench Foot
During the war, the cause of trench foot is the exposure to damp conditions for more than half a day (7). Soldiers suffer from trench foot find that their feet turn red or blue due to poor circulation and oxygen in their feet (6). The soldiers will also notice a bad rotting smell and will be able to feel their feet swelling up. It will become cold to the touch; discoloured slightly (5). If untreated the tissue will swell with excess fluids and could turn gangrenous (6). The suffering of the trench foot may take up at least for weeks or months; if lucky the foot will start to look normal again (6). This picture describes the hardships that the soldiers faced during the First . World War to keep their socks and their feet dry. This was taken in January 9th 1918, a medical officer of the 12th East Yorkshire is inspecting for any symptoms of trench foot before the disease is incurable. This picture is reliable because it was taken during the First World War, by a medical officer of the 12th East Yorkshire organized in a support trench, near Reclincourt, in January 9th 1918.
Historical Significance: It also been memorialized for the hardships the foot inspectors’ faced to check all the soldiers feet, to see if there is no disease.
The results of the wet conditions were increasing as it continues to rain heavy. Officers ordered soldiers to put in more duck boards in the trenches.
The Symptoms and Treatment (Prevention)
During the World War One, there were different unique symptoms of trench foot such as the foot turning blue and red also blotchy appearance, blisters, pain numbness and abnormal swelling(2). The treatment for the soldiers is to have three pairs of socks and they are ordered to change their socks least twice a day (3). In 1916, the allies found a new weapon that can help prevent trench foot. Soldiers are ordered from their officers to cover their feet with a grease of whale-oil every day(3). 37.8 litres a day, men in the trenches found it more effective than wearing wet socks(3). Historical Significance: The result was dreadful to the soldiers; it was horrible, disgusting and painful to get trench foot. It led to a change of finding a new weapon; it was whale-oil to prevent more casualties of trench foot. It reveals about our understanding of the time period; First World War that officers tried to help out their men (soldiers) to avoid getting the disease. We can also infer that the soldiers were graceful that their officers found a way to reduce the chance getting trench foot.
This poster is intended audience is the soldiers. It describes to keep the feet dry and clean and not to get trench foot. This poster was in the World War One from the U.S warning about trench foot in 1917 to the soldiers. This poster is reliable because it was a poster during the first war warning the soldiers if the feet aren’t dry may lead to trench foot.
How the trench foot affect the soldiers during World War One(1914-1918)
In this case during the World War One, trench foot is a horrible disease and it mainly happened to soldiers in cold, wet and muddy conditions (Winter.152).Trench foot literally rots the solders’ feet off; this was rough period for the soldiers because it delayed the time in which they could fight (Bull.66). Trench foot is very painful and could lead to other disease, such a trench fever (Bull.66). Extreme conditions of the trench foot on soldiers affect them from fighting in the war (Bull.67). Amputating happens to soldiers when the disease is untreatable, so the soldiers will be cripple forever and useless in the This letter is describes a war
Dear John Murrin, “The trenches are muddy and the mud sinks into my boots. Now I have trench foot, but it is not fatal; it is a fungal infection on my feet, and it is painful. Not only are the trenches muddy, but they are also filthy with rats and lice. I am not fond of trench warfare. Perhaps war, in general, is not as exciting as I thought it would be…” Love from your big brother, William Murrin
soldier who is writing to his brother about the war and himself about his feet. It was written in by William Murrin, a Canadian soldier who
suffered from trench foot.
This letter is reliable because it happened in April 23, 1915 a Canadian soldier named William Murrin who fought in the Battle of Ypres wrote to his brother about his life during the war.
This picture is describes a soldier who is suffering from extreme trench foot, who may have lost his legs. This picture is taken in France, 1917, a Canadian soldier who is suffering from extreme case of trench foot. In 1917, France a Canadian soldier named Felix Cullen suffered an extreme case of trench foot and he lost his legs
Historical Significance:
Soldiers are remarkable because they did not give up even though the disease; trench foot took the lives for walking. Some soldiers who are crippled helped out other injured men during the war.
Bibliography
1. Bull, Stephen. Trench Warfare: Aspects of War. N.p.: PRC, 2003.Print 2. Celebden, Bollywood. “Trench Foot: Symptoms and Treatment.” Foot Care, 2010. Web.21 Mar.2013. . 3. Denis. "What Is Trench Foot?" WiseGEEK. N.p., 2003. Web. 21 Mar. 2013. . 4. Granatstein, J.L. Hell 's Corner: An Illustrated History of Canada 's Great War, 19141918. Vancouver: Douglas & Mclntyre, 2004. Print. 5. Mary Dr. "Trench Foot â Pictures, Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Cure." Trench Foot Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Cure. N.p., 2010. Web. 21 Mar. 2013. . 6. McMillan, Peter. "Trench Foot." Trench Foot. Spartacus Educational, n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2013. . 7. Passchendaele. Dir. Paul Gross. Perf. Paul Gross, Caroline Dhavernas, and Gil Bellows. 2009. DVD. YouTube. 28 Apr. 2011. Web. 24 Mar. 2013. . 8. Recinos, Mariela. "Amazing Cultures: WW1: Life in the Trenches." Amazing Cultures: WW1: Life in the Trenches. N.p., 2011. Web. 21 Mar. 2013. . 9. Trueman, Chris. "Memories from the Trenches." Memories from the Trenches. N.p., 2000. Web. 21 Mar. 2013. . 10. Warhorse. Dir. Steven Spoelberg. Perf. Jeremy Irvine. Movie2k. Marco Ronz, n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2013. . 11. Winter, J. M. The Experience of World War I. Edinburgh: Southside, 1990. Print.
Bibliography: 1. Bull, Stephen. Trench Warfare: Aspects of War. N.p.: PRC, 2003.Print 2. Celebden, Bollywood. “Trench Foot: Symptoms and Treatment.” Foot Care, 2010. Web.21 Mar.2013. . 3. Denis. "What Is Trench Foot?" WiseGEEK. N.p., 2003. Web. 21 Mar. 2013. . 4. Granatstein, J.L. Hell 's Corner: An Illustrated History of Canada 's Great War, 19141918. Vancouver: Douglas & Mclntyre, 2004. Print. 5. Mary Dr. "Trench Foot â Pictures, Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Cure." Trench Foot Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Cure. N.p., 2010. Web. 21 Mar. 2013. . 6. McMillan, Peter. "Trench Foot." Trench Foot. Spartacus Educational, n.d. Web. 21 Mar. 2013. . 7. Passchendaele. Dir. Paul Gross. Perf. Paul Gross, Caroline Dhavernas, and Gil Bellows. 2009. DVD. YouTube. 28 Apr. 2011. Web. 24 Mar. 2013. . 8. Recinos, Mariela. "Amazing Cultures: WW1: Life in the Trenches." Amazing Cultures: WW1: Life in the Trenches. N.p., 2011. Web. 21 Mar. 2013. . 9. Trueman, Chris. "Memories from the Trenches." Memories from the Trenches. N.p., 2000. Web. 21 Mar. 2013. . 10. Warhorse. Dir. Steven Spoelberg. Perf. Jeremy Irvine. Movie2k. Marco Ronz, n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2013. . 11. Winter, J. M. The Experience of World War I. Edinburgh: Southside, 1990. Print.
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
The nature of trench warfare and life in the trenches dealing with experiences of Allied and German soldiers…
- 4241 Words
- 17 Pages
Good Essays -
A study in to the way war affects the soldiers fighting in them in terms of mental and physical health with reference to Pat Barkers “Regeneration”, Remarque’s “All Quiet on the Western Front” and Penguins anthology “Poems of the Great War 1914-1918.…
- 2527 Words
- 11 Pages
Powerful Essays -
We already fought a couple of battles here at the Western Front. In most of those battles, both sides used trench warfare, in which soldiers hide inside deep trenches. These trenches were dug in rows with sandbags lined at the top – side facing the “no-man’s land”. No-man’s land was basically where all the battle happens. The countryside mire was filled with landmines, covered with barbed wires on the surface. Several of my surviving comrades from the previous battle, the Somme, were shell-shocked, probably from the disaster. I still couldn’t forget the ‘Blood Bath’ that happened there. Trench life has been far worse than the life at camp 2 years ago. There was still the awfully wet mud surrounding and the cold air filled our lungs. Our boots were always wet, and we were given whale oil to cover our feet every day. Some people refuse or forget to do it, thus they developed trench foot. It’s a condition where one’s feet are rotting, and more often than not, accompanied by swelling and a painful infection. The trenches were filled with lice and rats which caused diseases, when they sneaked around the supplies. I managed to avoid the lice because I kept the silk you gave, around my torso as an undershirt. Anyways, a few days before the battle, General Arthur Currie made thorough plans for the attack. The planes scouted the enemy front lines and the terrain, and spotted the snipers and machine gun positions. We built a…
- 1232 Words
- 5 Pages
Better Essays -
The guns were automatic that made it really easy to kill the people when they tried to go from one trench to the other. Also the gases that they used were very fatal. The gas caused many of the soldiers to get incredibly sick and die, if the gas was exposed to their skin they would get many terrible sores. Also the tunnels they built from one trench to the other.…
- 385 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
Fra Eline, our comrades on the front lines have other problems than the enemy. It comes in the forms of dysentery, rats, and trench foot. Dysentery makes an average man unable to preform the most basic of tasks. This dysentery is caused by unclean drinking water and rotten meat. The rats are a common infestation in the trenches because they spread lice and are a nuisance to the men.…
- 69 Words
- 1 Page
Satisfactory Essays -
Also many of them had to slumber on the cold floor and they had slight or no warm dress. Most soldiers wrapped themselves in only one blanket, and because they didn’t have any shoes they covered little bits of fabric around their feet. An additional problem was the military’s got frostbite and sickness by the unpleasant cold. The British battled a war far from home. Military orders and troops, took months sometimes to reach their destination.…
- 1338 Words
- 6 Pages
Powerful Essays -
Trench foot is a fungal infection caused by the feet being over exposed to damp conditions. Trench foot gets the name from World War I trench warfare, in which the soldiers were constantly in wet and damp conditions. The fungus was caused from sweating, cold, and wet feet not being treated properly and not being taken care of, like changing socks and keeping the feet dry. The symptoms would include the feet slowly going numb and the skin changing to dark or red colors while also rotting off toes and leaving holes in the feet. Amputation was the only treatment for trench foot, it was the only way to rid the body of the fungus. During 1914-1915, over 20,000 men were diagnosed with trench foot. The only way for the men to fight the fungus was to change socks multiple times a day. The soldiers would eventually carry around three pairs of socks with them, and they also were drying their feet every chance they got; the soldiers would also cover their feet in grease to help with the…
- 1746 Words
- 7 Pages
Good Essays -
World War One (WWI) was arguably the most costly conflict in human history. With over "one third of men returning home" with serious mental ailments, this war had effects long after the armistice treaty (World War I Document Archive 18). This war lasted well past the signing of the treaty and went on to spark the beginning of the Second World War in 1939. Veterans were plagued with sickness long after the effects of the gas wore off and long after the guns fell silent, and to this day photographs of the trenches send chills down the spine of any man. WWI conjures up images of a no man 's land strewn with dead bodies; their faces concealed with primitive gas masks. It was one of the only conflicts where the tactics failed to keep up with technology and, as a result, had a devastating effect on human life. The elements of WWI including chemical warfare and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are illustrated in Ernest Hemingway 's "Soldier 's Home".…
- 1806 Words
- 5 Pages
Better Essays -
Yet the effectiveness of the machine gun made up in a sense for the limited training. It dehumanized and the fact that 1300 rounds could be fired off within a minute it was more or less the act of pulling the trigger and not letting go towards the direction of the enemy. Since the French and the Germans were at a stalemate, they knew that the only way to protect themselves from the enemy was to dig, leading to trench warfare (Keegan, 258). The trench warfare became a game of sending men across no-man’s land in order to gain some leverage over the enemy. Conditions in the trenches was revolting with bodies of dead men and feces creating the perfect condition for disease, as well as trench foot caused by prolonged exposure of the feet to damp, unsanitary, and cold…
- 1182 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
Trenches were built to protect yourself from the enemy(s). Trenches were generally around two meters deep and two meters wide. There was three rows. The first row was called the frontline trench. The frontline was the closest to no mans land (the land controlled by neither side of a war), it was also the most dangerous because that was were most of the fighting went on. The second row was called the support trench. It was back-up to the frontline, just in case the enemy got passed. The third and last row was called the reserves. This is were they kept all the supplies and equipment. Also there was communication tunnels connecting the trenches, they were used to transport supplies and messages to the other trenches. Trenches were very unhealthy. Lice, rats and all sorts of vermin occupied the trenches. There was little to no running water, the bathrooms consisted of a bucket in the trench. Also there was dead bodies covering all of the land. Worst of all, there was rats. They would eat dead bodies, or eat out the eyes and live in the bodies of the dead. Rats would nibble the living while they slept or when they were wounded. The other horrible parasite was lice. Lice is hard to get rid of…
- 1477 Words
- 6 Pages
Good Essays -
During World War I warfare was carried out using one the most familiar elements of modern warfare and soldiers were forced to live in the extremely horrible living conditions of The Trenches. A trench warfare is a kind of fight where each side digs deep trenches down in the ground to defend themselves against the enemy. The trenches of World War 1 stretched for miles in order to enable one side to get the upper hand on the other. The trenches were dug by soldiers themselves they would make the trenches by digging directly down into the ground which speeded up the digging process , but at the same time left the soldiers exposed to be fired on by the enemy as they dug. These trenches were sometimes even formed in places where you couldn’t break…
- 163 Words
- 1 Page
Good Essays -
Soon after, the French did the same and dug trenches to take cover from German fire. Soldiers lived in the trenches for years on end and life was not easy. Mud in the trenches could reach over two feet deep and sometimes even drowned wounded men. The mud also caused trench foot, an infection caused by prolonged exposure to cold, wet and unsanitary conditions that sometimes led to amputation. The trenches were dug in a zigzag pattern to keep any sort of shell fire or explosions from spreading too far down the line, minimizing injury and or loss of life. Trenches were doug in sets of three main lines with sets of communication lines connecting them. The trench line furthest from the front was used for reserve troops. The next line was for travel and is where the majority of combat happened. The trench line closest to the front was referred to as the “Stand to”. This “Stand to” trench line was mostly used at sunrise and sunset. Many trenches started out as simply dirt, but as time went by soldiers had to adapt to making them their short term home. Trenches evolved with wooden walls, medical quarters, office quarters, some including beds, furniture, and even some electric amenities. Even with these WWI was a long and terrible war with extreme losses of life. Soldiers lived in the trenches of Europe for years on end and life wasn’t easy for any of them. They…
- 1561 Words
- 7 Pages
Good Essays -
Imagine yourself in a muddy trench, being about eight to ten feet deep down. There are enemies firing guns overhead up top of the trench flying over it and the stench in the trench is horrible. There are many bodies piled around that have died and sometimes giant rats would walk about. Disease runs rampant and many people die due to the hard conditions. That’s a small part of what it was probably like to be fighting in the trenches back in World War One.…
- 1453 Words
- 6 Pages
Good Essays -
As a result of the wet and dirty conditions, many soldiers got trench foot'. "Their feet swelled up to two or three times their normal size and went numb but when the swelling went down, the pain was agonizing. If gangrene set in, the soldiers' feet and legs were amputated" (Newman 141). Soldiers were expected to patrol in sometimes knee-deep trenches with only the large, clumsy boots provided. Their feet were always cold and wet, basically meaning they were in constant discomfort. Many Canadians were committed to battles in which they had no chance of surviving and those who survived, watched others die. "Of 801 men who went into battle only sixty-eight unwounded men answered roll call the next day." (Giesler 2). Many of these battles were just meat grinders' in which the soldiers were the meat. These horrendous conditions and experiences provide further evidence to Canadians' misconception of the war.<br><br>The lack of effective leadership that did not support Canadian troops also resulted in some of the misery that they endured. The Ross rifle was not ideal for the trench fighting soldier because in some cases soldiers literally had to kick the firing mechanism to get it…
- 897 Words
- 4 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
The life in the trenches were horrible. There was all sorts of pest living in the trenches including rats, lice, and frogs. Soldiers slept in dug outs. The trenches were dirty and due to the weather they would be filled with water and they also became muddy. Soldiers would usually be covered almost up to their ankles because of the mud. There was 200,000 men dead. Over time the rats would eat the corpses. The smell was revolting. The dead bodies plus the clogging of toilets was mainly why the smell was so strong. The soldiers would get trench foot. Which was by insanitation and cold conditions that they would go through. As shown in document 4, in the image it shows the soldiers are struggling with trench…
- 613 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays