World War One wasn't just a military turning point -... Show more
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Lily
12/1/2025
History
Medicine WW1 History Report
363
•
Dec 1, 2025
•
Significance of Medicine in World War 1 History
Lily
@lily_qsmc
1 / 10
Medical Development Interpretations
Two key historical perspectives explain how WWI transformed medicine. The first argues that the war necessitated rapid developments in all areas of medicine, creating techniques we still use today. The second suggests that whilst war accelerated surgical progress, it may have delayed other medical advances by focusing too narrowly on wound treatment.
Both interpretations agree that WWI marked a turning point in medical history. However, they differ on whether this focus came at a cost to other areas of healthcare development.
💡 Key Point: These contrasting views show that historical events often have complex, mixed consequences rather than purely positive or negative effects.
Trench Conditions and Disease
Life in the trenches was absolutely grim - imagine living in muddy ditches infested with rats "as big as cats" for months on end. Soldiers were covered in lice and fleas that burrowed into their clothing, with some men scratching their backs raw trying to get relief.
Trench fever became a massive problem, affecting over 1 million troops and keeping each infected soldier unfit for duty for more than 60 days. It wasn't until 1918 that scientists discovered lice actually caused this mysterious new disease.
Personal hygiene was virtually impossible. Water had to be carried to the front lines in unwashed petrol cans, and soldiers went months without proper baths. The lack of sanitation meant that disease, not enemy fire, was often the biggest killer.
💡 Remember: Trench fever was completely new to medicine - doctors had to learn how to treat it from scratch during the war.
Water, Weather, and Trench Foot
The weather made everything worse. Constant rain turned trenches into waterlogged hellholes filled with liquid mud. Some soldiers actually drowned in the mud and couldn't even be rescued - just trampled on later.
These horrific conditions led to trench foot, where soldiers' feet would swell, go numb, and turn red or blue after standing in soaking wet boots for weeks. Over 74,000 Allied troops suffered from this condition by the war's end.
Doctors had never seen trench foot before, so they had to invent treatments on the spot. They tried bed rest, foot washes with lead and opium, and massages with plant oils. In severe cases, amputation was the only option to prevent the condition spreading.
💡 Think about it: Imagine trying to treat a disease you've never seen before whilst under enemy fire - that's what WWI doctors faced daily.
New Weapons, New Injuries
WWI introduced terrifying new weapons that created injuries doctors had never encountered. Shrapnel shells scattered metal fragments everywhere, creating jagged wounds perfect for infection. Harry Patch described having a two-inch piece of shrapnel removed from his stomach without anaesthetic - they'd run out treating more serious cases.
Facial injuries became a major concern for the first time. Some soldiers couldn't lie down without suffocating, others were left with gaping holes where their noses used to be. Surgeon Harold Gillies opened the first hospital dedicated to facial reconstruction at Sidcup - essentially inventing plastic surgery.
These new weapons forced rapid medical innovation. Without the pressure of war, these surgical advances might have taken decades to develop.
💡 Amazing fact: Modern plastic surgery techniques were born out of WWI's desperate need to help disfigured soldiers rebuild their lives.
Chemical Warfare Revolution
Gas attacks were WWI's most terrifying innovation. Chlorine gas turned the water in soldiers' lungs into hydrochloric acid, killing 1,100 troops in its first use at Ypres. Mustard gas was even deadlier, with only a 2-3% survival rate and causing severe burns and blindness.
Medical teams had to improvise treatments for gas poisoning - something they'd never encountered before. They experimented with oxygen therapy and bed rest, whilst gas masks became essential protective equipment for all soldiers.
The scale of chemical warfare was unprecedented. An estimated 85% of the 91,000 gas deaths came from phosgene or related agents, forcing doctors to develop entirely new treatment protocols under extreme pressure.
💡 Context: Chemical weapons were so horrific that they were banned by international law after WWI - but the medical knowledge gained from treating victims advanced respiratory medicine significantly.
Medical Innovation Under Pressure
The war created perfect conditions for rapid medical experimentation. Faced with entirely new diseases and injuries, doctors had no choice but to try innovative treatments. X-ray technology, barely used before the war, became commonplace when Marie Curie installed machines at the front lines.
Key innovations included the "golden hour" concept - discovering that soldiers treated within an hour had much higher survival rates. This principle still guides emergency medicine today.
The war also introduced proper ambulance services and normalised performing major surgery with anaesthesia. These weren't just improvements - they were revolutionary changes that transformed healthcare permanently.
💡 Legacy: Many techniques developed during WWI's medical crisis became standard practice and are still saving lives over a century later.
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Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help🤍🤍
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THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
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This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as I’ve seen! Geometry too!
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
I think it’s very much worth it and you’ll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still don’t get it!!! In the end I think it’s worth it 😊👍 ⚠️Also DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLY❗️❗️⚠️
Thomas R
iOS user
Knowunity is the BEST app I’ve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades
Brad T
Android user
Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help🤍🤍
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend
Aubrey
iOS user
Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.😋🩷🎀
Marco B
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as I’ve seen! Geometry too!
Paul T
iOS user
Significance of Medicine in World War 1 History
Lily
@lily_qsmc
World War One wasn't just a military turning point - it completely revolutionised medicine as we know it. The horrific conditions and never-before-seen injuries forced doctors to innovate rapidly, creating medical techniques that are still saving lives today.
Medical Development Interpretations
Two key historical perspectives explain how WWI transformed medicine. The first argues that the war necessitated rapid developments in all areas of medicine, creating techniques we still use today. The second suggests that whilst war accelerated surgical progress, it may have delayed other medical advances by focusing too narrowly on wound treatment.
Both interpretations agree that WWI marked a turning point in medical history. However, they differ on whether this focus came at a cost to other areas of healthcare development.
💡 Key Point: These contrasting views show that historical events often have complex, mixed consequences rather than purely positive or negative effects.
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Trench Conditions and Disease
Life in the trenches was absolutely grim - imagine living in muddy ditches infested with rats "as big as cats" for months on end. Soldiers were covered in lice and fleas that burrowed into their clothing, with some men scratching their backs raw trying to get relief.
Trench fever became a massive problem, affecting over 1 million troops and keeping each infected soldier unfit for duty for more than 60 days. It wasn't until 1918 that scientists discovered lice actually caused this mysterious new disease.
Personal hygiene was virtually impossible. Water had to be carried to the front lines in unwashed petrol cans, and soldiers went months without proper baths. The lack of sanitation meant that disease, not enemy fire, was often the biggest killer.
💡 Remember: Trench fever was completely new to medicine - doctors had to learn how to treat it from scratch during the war.
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Water, Weather, and Trench Foot
The weather made everything worse. Constant rain turned trenches into waterlogged hellholes filled with liquid mud. Some soldiers actually drowned in the mud and couldn't even be rescued - just trampled on later.
These horrific conditions led to trench foot, where soldiers' feet would swell, go numb, and turn red or blue after standing in soaking wet boots for weeks. Over 74,000 Allied troops suffered from this condition by the war's end.
Doctors had never seen trench foot before, so they had to invent treatments on the spot. They tried bed rest, foot washes with lead and opium, and massages with plant oils. In severe cases, amputation was the only option to prevent the condition spreading.
💡 Think about it: Imagine trying to treat a disease you've never seen before whilst under enemy fire - that's what WWI doctors faced daily.
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New Weapons, New Injuries
WWI introduced terrifying new weapons that created injuries doctors had never encountered. Shrapnel shells scattered metal fragments everywhere, creating jagged wounds perfect for infection. Harry Patch described having a two-inch piece of shrapnel removed from his stomach without anaesthetic - they'd run out treating more serious cases.
Facial injuries became a major concern for the first time. Some soldiers couldn't lie down without suffocating, others were left with gaping holes where their noses used to be. Surgeon Harold Gillies opened the first hospital dedicated to facial reconstruction at Sidcup - essentially inventing plastic surgery.
These new weapons forced rapid medical innovation. Without the pressure of war, these surgical advances might have taken decades to develop.
💡 Amazing fact: Modern plastic surgery techniques were born out of WWI's desperate need to help disfigured soldiers rebuild their lives.
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Chemical Warfare Revolution
Gas attacks were WWI's most terrifying innovation. Chlorine gas turned the water in soldiers' lungs into hydrochloric acid, killing 1,100 troops in its first use at Ypres. Mustard gas was even deadlier, with only a 2-3% survival rate and causing severe burns and blindness.
Medical teams had to improvise treatments for gas poisoning - something they'd never encountered before. They experimented with oxygen therapy and bed rest, whilst gas masks became essential protective equipment for all soldiers.
The scale of chemical warfare was unprecedented. An estimated 85% of the 91,000 gas deaths came from phosgene or related agents, forcing doctors to develop entirely new treatment protocols under extreme pressure.
💡 Context: Chemical weapons were so horrific that they were banned by international law after WWI - but the medical knowledge gained from treating victims advanced respiratory medicine significantly.
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Medical Innovation Under Pressure
The war created perfect conditions for rapid medical experimentation. Faced with entirely new diseases and injuries, doctors had no choice but to try innovative treatments. X-ray technology, barely used before the war, became commonplace when Marie Curie installed machines at the front lines.
Key innovations included the "golden hour" concept - discovering that soldiers treated within an hour had much higher survival rates. This principle still guides emergency medicine today.
The war also introduced proper ambulance services and normalised performing major surgery with anaesthesia. These weren't just improvements - they were revolutionary changes that transformed healthcare permanently.
💡 Legacy: Many techniques developed during WWI's medical crisis became standard practice and are still saving lives over a century later.
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We thought you’d never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
Our AI companion is specifically built for the needs of students. Based on the millions of content pieces we have on the platform we can provide truly meaningful and relevant answers to students. But its not only about answers, the companion is even more about guiding students through their daily learning challenges, with personalised study plans, quizzes or content pieces in the chat and 100% personalisation based on the students skills and developments.
Where can I download the Knowunity app?
You can download the app in the Google Play Store and in the Apple App Store.
Is Knowunity really free of charge?
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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
I think it’s very much worth it and you’ll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still don’t get it!!! In the end I think it’s worth it 😊👍 ⚠️Also DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLY❗️❗️⚠️
Thomas R
iOS user
Knowunity is the BEST app I’ve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades
Brad T
Android user
Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help🤍🤍
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend
Aubrey
iOS user
Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.😋🩷🎀
Marco B
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as I’ve seen! Geometry too!
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
I think it’s very much worth it and you’ll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still don’t get it!!! In the end I think it’s worth it 😊👍 ⚠️Also DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLY❗️❗️⚠️
Thomas R
iOS user
Knowunity is the BEST app I’ve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades
Brad T
Android user
Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help🤍🤍
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend
Aubrey
iOS user
Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.😋🩷🎀
Marco B
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as I’ve seen! Geometry too!
Paul T
iOS user