Who invented shell shock?

Why were rats such a problem 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.

What was the trench foot in ww1

Trench foot appeared in the winter of 1914, characterized by pedal swelling, numbness, and pain. It was quickly recognized by military-medical authorities. There was little debate over whether it was frostbite or new condition, and it was quickly accepted as a specific disease.

What did ww1 trenches smell like

Then there was the smell. Stinking mud mingled with rotting corpses, lingering gas, open latrines, wet clothes and unwashed bodies to produce an overpowering stench. The main latrines were located behind the lines, but front-line soldiers had to dig small waste pits in their own trenches.

How big were rats in ww1

Trench rats were rodents that were found around the frontline trenches of World War I. Due to massive amounts of debris, corpses, and a putrid environment, rats at the trenches bred at a rapid pace. The rats likely numbered in the millions. According to some soldiers, these rats could grow to be "as big as cats".

What is trench foot in Vietnam war

Trench foot, also known as immersion foot, occurs when the feet are wet for long periods of time. It can be quite painful, but it can be prevented and treated.

Why was WWI so muddy

The mud of the Great War was the remnants of human beings and of murdered nature, the by-product of modern industrial warfare fought on a scale that had never before been thought possible. It is not the same mud we know of today. The trenches of the Western Front were always “muddy”, even when it was dry.

What did ww2 smell like

Crocker spent months testing combinations of the world's most vile odors, and by March 1944 he had settled on a mixture of skatole, amyl mercaptan, and butyric, valeric, and caproic acids that together assaulted the senses with smells of vomit, rancid butter, urine, rotten eggs, foot odor, and excrement.

What did soldiers taste in ww1

By the First World War (1914-18), Army food was basic, but filling. Each soldier could expect around 4,000 calories a day, with tinned rations and hard biscuits staples once again. But their diet also included vegetables, bread and jam, and boiled plum puddings.

Did rats used to be giant

Researchers found the fossils of seven giant rat species that lived in the Southeast Asian island nation. The largest of these weighed about 11 pounds, compared to today's large rats that top out at about two.

Did rats eat the soldiers food in ww1

There was plenty of food, water and shelter. 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.

Is trench foot painful

Trench foot, also known as immersion foot, occurs when the feet are wet for long periods of time. It can be quite painful, but it can be prevented and treated.

Did Vietnam have trench warfare

The Cu Chi (pronounced Ku Chi) tunnels are an extensive 250-mile (around 400km) network of underground trenches dug manually by the Vietnamese people and Viet Cong guerillas to protect themselves from the merciless bombing unleashed by American forces who fought a war in Vietnam in 1964-73.

Were WW1 soldiers depressed

Results: Soldiers deployed in war zones were more likely to have a diagnosis of depression compared to those not serving on the frontline. The logistic regression analysis showed that the diagnosis of depression is predicted by being a soldier and being deployed in a war area.

What did WW1 trenches smell like

Then there was the smell. Stinking mud mingled with rotting corpses, lingering gas, open latrines, wet clothes and unwashed bodies to produce an overpowering stench. The main latrines were located behind the lines, but front-line soldiers had to dig small waste pits in their own trenches.

What is the smelliest weapon

It is a synthetic stink bomb based upon the chemistry of the spray that is emitted from the anal glands of the skunk. It was designed as a crowd control tool to be used as a deterrent that causes people to scatter, such as at a protest. It has been described as a less than lethal weapon.

What did ww1 soldiers smell

The stink of war

Stinking mud mingled with rotting corpses, lingering gas, open latrines, wet clothes and unwashed bodies to produce an overpowering stench. The main latrines were located behind the lines, but front-line soldiers had to dig small waste pits in their own trenches.

What would ww1 smell like

The stink of war

Then there was the smell. Stinking mud mingled with rotting corpses, lingering gas, open latrines, wet clothes and unwashed bodies to produce an overpowering stench. The main latrines were located behind the lines, but front-line soldiers had to dig small waste pits in their own trenches.

What did most soldiers fear in ww1

Despite prevailing notions of masculine bravery, soldiers' letters, diaries, and memoirs described the fear experience – associated with “baptism by fire”, different kinds of weaponry (including gas and air bombs), panicking or retreating units, and other feelings such as hatred, revenge, and shame.

What is the biggest extinct rat

Fossil hunters have unearthed the skull of a giant prehistoric rat that roamed South America four million years ago. The furry beast, believed to be the largest rodent ever to have walked the Earth, was bigger than a bull and weighed up to a tonne, according to researchers.

Has a rat ever saved a human

He is believed to have saved lives and has been widely lauded as a hero. "His contribution allows communities in Cambodia to live, work, and play; without fear of losing life or limb," the nonprofit APOPO said Tuesday. Magawa retired last year as the most successful explosive-sniffing rat the organization ever trained.

Why did soldiers hate rats

Rats and lice tormented the troops by day and night. Oversized rats, bloated by the food and waste of stationary armies, helped spread disease and were a constant irritant. In 1918, doctors also identified lice as the cause of trench fever, which plagued the troops with headaches, fevers, and muscle pain.

Is trench foot worse than frostbite

Trench foot is distinct from frostbite, another form of tissue damage to the feet, in that the skin does not freeze. It is known as a non-freezing cold injury (NFCI). People who have the condition today do not experience the same level of tissue loss as the soldiers that developed it during the wars.

Why are wet socks so uncomfortable

Sores and Blisters – Wetness can increase the friction between the foot and the sock, and if it's not taken care of, it can lead to sores and blisters on your feet.

Was Vietnam a dirty war

The Vietnam War was called a dirty war for several reasons, most notably the brutality of the tactics used by the French and American militaries in the hopes of putting down the communist rebellion.

Who did the Viet Cong fear most

South Korean troops

Tough, battle-hardened South Korean troops were justly feared by Vietcong and North Vietnamese regulars alike during the Vietnam War.