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Story
May 12, 1918
The Cordele Dispatch
Cordele, Crisp County, Georgia
What is this article about?
US Army Medical Department in Washington studies 'trench foot,' a frostbite aggravated by WWI trench conditions, caused by cold, tobacco use, and poor circulation. Bulletin details symptoms, prevention like loose footwear, and slow warming treatment to avoid amputation.
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ARMY DOCTORS
STUDY TRENCH FOOT
MEDICAL
DEPARTMENT
GIVES
MUCH TIME TO DISEASE
WASHINGTON, May 11.—Preparations for safeguarding the health of American soldiers in Europe include exhaustive studies by officers of the Medical Department of new diseases or those previously known which are found to be more prevalent in the army than in civil life.
None has attracted more attention than "Trench Foot," the subject of a bulletin issued from the office of the Surgeon General, presenting the conclusions of prominent men who have investigated the malady in France.
Although the disease is a pronounced accompaniment of trench warfare, its genesis is referable primarily to cold. Among the predisposing factors, curiously enough, is the excessive use of tobacco, which it is asserted paralyzes the nerve ends of the vasomotor nerves, other factors being lack of acclimatization to cold, enfeebled circulation, under nourishment and loss of sleep.
Fundamentally, trench foot is nothing but frost bite, aggravated by war conditions. As the feet begin to swell there is a pain around the ankles or in parts of the leg where circulation is not stopped. Patients obtaining treatment in early stages of the disease soon lose the numbness of their limbs and the normal color returns.
When treatment is delayed and the disease is aggravated by tight shoes or puttees, the feet may have a dead, gangrenous appearance. Mild cases are cured in three weeks, while severe cases may require amputation.
"The mechanical pressure due to tight puttees, leggings and shoes is a large causative factor," warns the bulletin. "That crime against common sense, the spiral puttee, shrinking as it does, as much as one sixth of its length when wet, especially has had many victims."
The methods of lumber jacks in the northwest, who wear oversize shoes and boots and carefully dry their stockings at every opportunity, were cited as excellent prevention.
The vitally important consideration in treatment of trench foot is said to be precaution that the feet should not be too suddenly warmed. All the experience of the foreign armies was summed up in a few words:
"Keep the feet as warm and dry as possible; if overchilling does occur reestablish circulation slowly and not by warm applications."
STUDY TRENCH FOOT
MEDICAL
DEPARTMENT
GIVES
MUCH TIME TO DISEASE
WASHINGTON, May 11.—Preparations for safeguarding the health of American soldiers in Europe include exhaustive studies by officers of the Medical Department of new diseases or those previously known which are found to be more prevalent in the army than in civil life.
None has attracted more attention than "Trench Foot," the subject of a bulletin issued from the office of the Surgeon General, presenting the conclusions of prominent men who have investigated the malady in France.
Although the disease is a pronounced accompaniment of trench warfare, its genesis is referable primarily to cold. Among the predisposing factors, curiously enough, is the excessive use of tobacco, which it is asserted paralyzes the nerve ends of the vasomotor nerves, other factors being lack of acclimatization to cold, enfeebled circulation, under nourishment and loss of sleep.
Fundamentally, trench foot is nothing but frost bite, aggravated by war conditions. As the feet begin to swell there is a pain around the ankles or in parts of the leg where circulation is not stopped. Patients obtaining treatment in early stages of the disease soon lose the numbness of their limbs and the normal color returns.
When treatment is delayed and the disease is aggravated by tight shoes or puttees, the feet may have a dead, gangrenous appearance. Mild cases are cured in three weeks, while severe cases may require amputation.
"The mechanical pressure due to tight puttees, leggings and shoes is a large causative factor," warns the bulletin. "That crime against common sense, the spiral puttee, shrinking as it does, as much as one sixth of its length when wet, especially has had many victims."
The methods of lumber jacks in the northwest, who wear oversize shoes and boots and carefully dry their stockings at every opportunity, were cited as excellent prevention.
The vitally important consideration in treatment of trench foot is said to be precaution that the feet should not be too suddenly warmed. All the experience of the foreign armies was summed up in a few words:
"Keep the feet as warm and dry as possible; if overchilling does occur reestablish circulation slowly and not by warm applications."
What sub-type of article is it?
Medical Curiosity
Historical Event
What themes does it cover?
Misfortune
Recovery
What keywords are associated?
Trench Foot
Army Doctors
Medical Department
Frostbite
Trench Warfare
Prevention
Treatment
Amputation
Where did it happen?
France
Story Details
Location
France
Event Date
May 11
Story Details
Army Medical Department issues bulletin on trench foot, a cold-induced disease in trench warfare, detailing causes like tobacco and tight footwear, symptoms from swelling to gangrene, and prevention through dry warm feet and slow rewarming.