World War II, which spanned from the year 1939 to 1945, saw the deaths of nearly 72 million men, women, and children as a result of the fighting taking place around the world. In total, there were 291,557 American soldiers killed in action and other 113,842 killed by other means, such as disease. With the start of the war came advancement in all aspects of technology and innovation, including the medical field. The treatment of infections saw progress with the development and mass production of drugs such as penicillin and sulfanilamide that combined saved 95% of Allied soldiers lucky enough to make it to a hospital. The use of morphine as a painkiller increased while other drugs such as atabrine were developed to treat illnesses specific to the various battle theaters. The science of blood transfusions was improved and reconstructive surgery took off as the primary way of reconstructing soldiers' faces after being marred by grievous wounds. Along with the physical trauma of war came a new understanding of the mental stressors suffered by soldiers after returning home from war. Advancements in neurosurgery allowed for a better understanding of different types of injuries and the best treatment options available.
Morphine
The drug morphine was widely used throughout World War II. Medics used morphine as both a painkiller and as a way to sedate seriously wounded soldiers. The administration or morphine was improved by the pharmaceutical company Squibb with the development of the morphine syrette. These syrettes, or small, flexible, toothpaste-like tubes, allowed medics to administer controlled doses of morphine to each patient. The used syrette was then pinned to the wounded soldier's collar in order to prevent patients from accidentally being accidentally overdosed on morphine. Neurosurgery
As new ways of waging war developed, surgical techniques and recovery programs were forced to expand in an effort to keep up with the changing injuries. Dr. Ludwig Guttman opened the Spinal Injuries Unit at Stoke Mandeville and treat patients with spinal injuries and paralysis. He combined an active lifestyle with the administration of penicillin (to combat infection) in successful effort to reduce the death rate of soldiers suffering from these injuries. Another doctor, Hugh Cairns, founded modern craniofacial surgery, or surgery on the face and skull, with the creation of mobile units made up of neurosurgeons, plastic surgeons, and opthalmic surgeons. These teams, known as the "trinity," developed techniques for repairing injuries that affected multiple areas of the face and demanded consultation from several different specialities. This lead to the modern surgical teams known today that are called on to treat patients with injuries of significant severity and that encompass larger, more inclusive areas of the body. |
A morphine syrette used in World War II for the administration of morphine.
A soldier is injected using a morphine syrette.
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