The significance of the Western Front for experiments in surgery and medicine
I can assess the impact of medical and surgical experiments conducted on the Western Front.
The significance of the Western Front for experiments in surgery and medicine
I can assess the impact of medical and surgical experiments conducted on the Western Front.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- X-rays were used to help guide surgical work.
- The Thomas Splint helped prevent complications from fractured leg bones.
- Debridement and the Carrel-Dakin method were used to sterilise wounds.
- Blood transfusions were used to manage blood loss.
- Advances during WWI enabled blood to be stored and used for transfusions.
Keywords
Invasive - in this context, medical treatments which involve cutting into the body
Antiseptic - a substance used to destroy disease-causing bacteria
Sterilise - to make something free from microbes
Irrigation - in this context, the process of washing out a wound to prevent infection
Clotting - the process in which blood changes into a solid state to form a thick mass or lump
Common misconception
Antiseptics developed before WWI were able to sterilise wounds against infections like gas gangrene.
Antiseptics such as carbolic acid could destroy some bacteria, but had no effect on those which caused gas gangrene. The sodium hypochlorite solution used in the Carrel-Dakin method could destroy the bacteria which caused gas gangrene though.
To help you plan your year 10 history lesson on: The significance of the Western Front for experiments in surgery and medicine, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 10 history lesson on: The significance of the Western Front for experiments in surgery and medicine, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
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Explore more key stage 4 history lessons from the The British sector of the Western Front, 1914–18 unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.A wound that has been has been cleaned and covered to protect it.
Q2.Where was a triage system normally used?
Q3.Which location was most likely to have permanent access to X-ray machines?
Q4.How many patients could be accommodated in total across all British Base Hospitals by the end of the war in 1918?
Q5.Where were the most severely wounded patients sent to in CCSs?
Q6.Where on the Western Front was an underground hospital built?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.In the Carrel-Dakin method, a sodium hypochlorite solution was used for the of wounds.
Q2.Match each medical experiment with its intended purpose.
prevent complications caused by broken bones
prevent infection
prevent shock
prevent blood clotting