World War I: A Watershed for Medical Progression
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Ruiyan Huang
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Throughout history, progress in medicine has been intrinsically linked to the dynamics of warfare, driving innovations and transforming medical practices for the civilian population. This paper examines how World War I, characterized by the unprecedentedly large-scale utilization of trench warfare and modern mechanized weapons, catalyzed the development of medical technologies and techniques, fundamentally transforming medical practices thereafter. Key areas of medical progress discussed in this paper include facial reconstruction, vaccination for infectious diseases, mobile medical imaging, and blood preservation and transfusion, as well as their immediate and far-reaching impacts on society thereafter. Drawing upon a broad range of historical evidence such as first-hand account books, oral accounts, museum resources, and primary documents in French and English, this paper not only provides a comprehensive review of the major innovations in medical technology during World War I but also reveals the diverse personal perspectives that soldiers developed in response to the implementation of novel medical technology in that time, revealing the complex challenges associated with rapid medical and technological advancements. Overall, this paper explores the revolutionary impacts of important medical development during World War I and offers new insights into the interplay between wartime devastation and medical progress.
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Authors
Ruiyan Huang
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References:
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