Medicine on the British sector of the Western Front, 1914-1918Developments in medicine in the early 20th century

There were a series of developments in medicine during the early 20th century that enabled better treatment of the wounded on the Western Front during World War One. These included aseptic surgery, X-rays and blood transfusions.

Infection and aseptic surgery

Joseph Lister’s use of antiseptic surgery was a turning point in the history of surgery. It led to the better removal of bacteria around wounds and on surgical instruments. This reduced the death rate from infection.

Antiseptic surgery led to aseptic surgery in the late 19th century. Aseptic surgery ensured operating theatres were free of more germ-free environments:

• operating theatres and hospitals were continuously cleaned
• all surgical instruments were steam sterilised to kill all bacteria
• surgeons wore rubber gloves, surgical gowns and masks that had been sterilised

The conditions on the Western Front made many of these principles of cleanliness very difficult to follow. However, some of the techniques were still used on the front.

X-rays

X-rays were discovered in 1895 by Wilhelm Röntgen. He realised that the rays could pass through paper, wood and human flesh but not through metal or bone. By the end of the 19th century, X-ray machines were being used in hospitals to identify broken bones.

The ability to identify metal ‘foreign objects’ such as pieces of metal from shrapnel shells or bullets, and locate broken bones, would help hugely once the technology was trialled on the Western Front. .

Blood transfusions

Blood loss can lead to death. In 1900, Karl Landsteiner discovered the different blood groups and showed that some blood groups are incompatible with one another. He showed that blood transfusions would only work if the blood used was compatible. Landsteiner was able to explain this. Each blood cell contains antibodies that react against the antibodies from a different blood group.

This discovery meant that if a patient and potential donor were a match and were in the same room, a blood transfusion was possible. They needed to be in the same room because it was not possible to collect and store blood because it would clot.