The Impact of war, Science and technology on medicine

Science and Medicine

• Blood Transfusions - See surgery section
• Magic Bullets - see medical treatment section

Radioactivity & Marie Curie 

• The Curies investigated radioactivity and built on the work of the Roentgen (X-Rays).
• 1898 - the Curies discovered new chemical elements polonium & radium. 
• During World War One Curie helped to equip ambulances with x-ray equipment, which she drove to the front lines herself. 
• However, she faced great opposition from male scientists, and she never received significant financial benefits from her work. 

Splints 

• Invented before the war by Hugh Owen Thomas and used greatly during the war
• 1914 - 80% with broken thighs died.  In 1918 80% survived!

X-Rays -  Discovered: 1895 by William Rontgen

• WW1 confirmed their importance in surgery to remove deeply lodged billets & shrapnel.  
• More machines were quickly manufactured & installed in hospitals along Western Front & mobile X-ray machines were developed by Marie Curie for French Army on front line

Blood Transfusions - first tried in the 19th century but not always effective

• 1901- Karl Landsteiner discovered the blood groups so donors had to match receivers.
• WW1 needed vast amounts of blood & many soldiers bled to death before blood got to them
• Discovered in the 1910s that if you refrigerate the blood it could store for longer.
• 1916 - Cpn Oswald Robertson set up the first blood bank

Plastic Surgery

• Harold Gilles set up plastic surgery unit, using pedicle tubes to help reconstruct faces

Blood Transfusions - movement from fairly primitive to well-refined service by the end of war

• Dr. Charles Drew's = discovery of blood separation into plasma & cells.  Plasma could be frozen separately = blood stored for longer & less likely contaminated!

Plastic Surgery - Developed in WW1 & work of Gilles 

• Archibald McIndoe developed better techniques - burn victims treated with saline solution
• Airmen who survived the burns & operations later formed the 'guinea pig club'

Infection 

• Penicillin discovered in 1928, mass produced in 1943 - effective against infection