Was there lice in the trenches in ww1?
Lice infestation was the norm in the trenches – it is estimated that up to 97% of officers and men who worked and lived in the trenches were afflicted with lice. It was decidedly a trench phenomenon. Also commonly referred to as ‘chats’, Lice often spread disease, the unique so-called Trench Fever.
Why was it difficult to get rid of lice in the trenches in ww1?
Lice were impossible to get rid of in the trenches. Lice, like the rats also carried disease which “proved to continually and heavily drain on manpower. With the stench and abundance of rotting bodies, not only did the rats and lice have a utopia, but flies also swarmed the battlefields.
Why were rats and lice so common in the trenches?
Many men killed in the trenches were buried almost where they fell. If a trench subsided, or new trenches or dugouts were needed, large numbers of decomposing bodies would be found just below the surface. These corpses, as well as the food scraps that littered the trenches, attracted rats.
How did soldiers in trenches get rid of lice?
The British also developed a combination of naphthalene, creosote, and iodoform made into a paste which could be applied to the seams of uniforms with a good result of eliminating lice in just a few hours.
Why were body lice such a problem for the soldiers in the trenches?
Why were body lice a problem for soldiers? They stopped the soldiers from the trench fighting, and they got diseases from them. There were many soldiers’ corpses found in trenches for them to eat.
Did ww1 soldiers eat rats?
With no proper disposal system the rats would feast off food scraps. The rats grew bigger and bolder and would even steal food from a soldier’s hand. But for some soldiers the rats became their friends. They captured them and kept them as pets, bringing a brief reprisal from the horror which lay all around.
What did trench foot look like?
Symptoms of trench foot include a tingling and/or itching sensation, pain, swelling, cold and blotchy skin, numbness, and a prickly or heavy feeling in the foot. The foot may be red, dry, and painful after it becomes warm. Blisters may form, followed by skin and tissue dying and falling off.