Evening star., 1916-04-02
H HE European war has introduced

!
| II a disease quite unknown in the
| history of any other war. This
is a disease called trench foot. and is
largely the result OF long periods of
! inactivity in trench hfe. The disease
was enormously called frost bite before
| physicians had ascertained that they
were two separate and distinct forms
! of foot troubles to which soldiers were
! addicted.
! There is a story told of a rife brigade
| that will give. some idea of the scope
and seriousness of trench foot. This
brigade marched fifteen miles and was
then ordered into the trenches. Within
as short a time as forty-eight hours
trench foot attacked 400 men. Another
report had it that week in No
vember trench foot claim ed more than
100 victims.
1t does not sound like particularly
dangerous disease, Yet where there are
severe cases amputationS often follow.
one of the chief contributing causes is
. the forced inactivity, lack of general
exercise which falls to the lot of the
soldiers in the trenches. Those who
have read of the monotony and the de-
pressing diScomforts of trench life
know how utterly devoid of opportunity
to exercise those trenches are. The
legs and feet of the soldiers in
cased in close-fitting leggings and
heavy boots for many consecutive
hours. The feet are constantly exposed
to cold water and quantities of mud,
and if the soldier is not in robust
condition he soon finds that both feet
and limbs are suffering severely from
construction. The circulation in the
feet is poor and the nerves of limbs
and feet are not normal.
Soldiers who suffer from trench foot
for the first time complain of a rise in
temperature. The toes and frequently
the feet lose all sense of feeling.
Neither are they sensitive to either
, heat or cold. The soldier also ex-
periences great difficulty in trying to
stand on his toes and unless the attack
of trench foot is exceedingly mild he
cannot stand upon his toes at all. no
matter how much effort he may put
forth in attempt.
If case grows severe the feet
discolored, turning black and blue. the
tips of the toes being frequently COW
cred with brown spots. a patient is
not conscious of his feet being cold.
he very quickly discovers that they are
cold.
During the first few days of trench
foot there is but little pain. but the
moment sensation begins to return
the PAIN rapidly becomes quite severe.
Many times II is the cause of insomnia.
as the throbbing ache in the feet AL
ways seems to grow worse at night.
The severest cases of trench foot re-
corded state that the feet show abso-
a fraf CT inn
failing to bring response. The toes
turn perfectly black, the rest of the
foot is a vivid red: in some cases this
redness extends as far the knee.
The feet are also badly swollen. Very
often the feet do not swell or discolor
until the boots are removed.
During an attack of trench foot the
patient, is wholly incapacitated for
walking any distance. \ complete
recovery consumes approximately two
months of valuable time. Even alter
recovery there is some pain for sew
eral weeks. depending both on the in
dlvidual and the severity of his attack
good physician gives to his trench
foot patients quite as much care and
attention other patients are entitled
to. The treatment for trench foot is
general and local and consists of mas
sage, baths, electricity. plenty Of
dressings. both wet ard dry: powders
Ointments. etc. a thorough rest in bed
is imperative and is insisted upon q $
far as possible. In bed the feet are
kept raised and various applications
are used.
When soldier begs Cor relief from
the tingling pains at night, he is given
a mustard bath, not in hot but tepid
water. Medical men agree that surgi-
cal treatment should never. whatever
the seeming provocation be in the
least hurried. and that il ought ra ther
be resorted to last hope
This disease has become such fac
tor in the present war, and Il soldiers
feet much more necessary to
him as soldier than they were to
him private citizen. that the !
French Academy of Medicine has dis !
tributed among the soldiers leaflets !
giving them information on how to
avoid trench foot. Since mud and wa
ter have such deleterious effect on /
the feet. causing very perceptible ,
contra ction of shoe leather, which leads
to further complications. the leafiet |
urges the soldiers to drain
the floors of trenches. The object is to |
keep the bottom of the trench as dry !
as possible. either by bitches and |
or flooring the trench with
boards or shingles. The men. even in |
the narrow confines of the trenches,
are advised to exercise all that they !
possibly can. The French suggest