Medical Advances in World War II
During World War II, advances in medical care and new pharmaceutical discoveries improved the health care provided to military personnel. New medications, improved medical procedures, and new organizational systems saved lives, reduced the time to receive care, and shortened recovery times. The success rate of treating serious wounds and curing infectious diseases increased substantially during the war and allowed many men to rejoin the war effort. Some of these advances are still used today.
Perhaps the most important innovation was the introduction of antibiotics, considered wonder drugs during the war. The use of the penicillium mold for curative purposes was invented by Alexander Fleming in 1928, and penicillin was the first effective antibiotic to be widely used. Streptomycin, discovered in 1932 by a German scientist, was a sulfa drug that was available in powdered form or as tablets and was used for some bacterial infections, but it was less effective than penicillin. Penicillin, on the other hand, could be injected directly into a patient, had fewer side effects, and worked more effectively against deadly bacterial infections, which often appeared in wounded soldiers. At the beginning of World War II, however, there were issues in obtaining and distributing penicillin due to lack of production, a short shelf-life, and storage and transportation problems. The transportation problem was solved by the invention of freeze-drying, a new process that isolated the medicinal components to be used as an antibiotic and then used a freeze-drying process to stabilize the product so it would not go bad. This process was later used for foods. Mass production of penicillin was accomplished when more than 20 American companies worked together to produce the antibiotic, most of which was sent to the military. By the time of the Normandy invasion in June 1944, they had produced approximately 2.3 million doses.
Penicillin was used to cure deadly infectious bacterial diseases such as pneumonia, strep throat, and staph infections, but it was also effective in treating wounded soldiers who previously could have died from simple cuts that became infected. According to one estimate, the death rate from bacterial infections related to wounds was reduced by approximately 50%, much better that the 4% survival rate in World War I. This translated into saving the lives of thousands of soldiers who could be returned to active duty. Additionally, the use of penicillin cut the recovery time for wounded soldiers. The Germans also produced penicillin during the war, but Allied bombings of their factories reduced the availability of the drug.
Plasma was another important medical advance developed during World War II. Discovered by Dr. Charles Drew, plasma was the liquid portion of blood that was freeze-dried (like penicillin) so that it could be stored unrefrigerated for long periods of time and was available when needed. It was used to increase the volume of blood in wounded men who were in shock due to blood loss. Plasma saved countless lives of critically injured men before they could reach a medical facility by replacing lost blood, made possible because medics could carry plasma in their bag and administer it to wounded soldiers on the battlefield. Unlike regular blood transfusions, blood-typing was unnecessary, making plasma more accessible and able to be administered sooner.
Another medication developed during World War II was quinine (also known as quinacrine, Mepacrine, or Atabrine) to treat malaria in the Pacific. Additionally, DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane), a pesticide now regulated, was sprayed in military areas to kill pests, such as lice and mosquitoes, to prevent outbreaks of malaria, typhus, and other deadly diseases. And cortisone, a steroid derived from the adrenal cortex, was developed as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.
Besides using DDT to kill pests carrying transmissible illnesses, other preventive measures were taken to maintain health, reduce certain illnesses, and limit the impact of injuries during World War II. Depending on where soldiers were stationed, military men were vaccinated for diseases such as smallpox, typhoid, cholera, yellow fever, and bubonic plague. There were also vaccines for the flu and tetanus. In hot climates, salt pills were distributed to prevent dehydration. Halazone tablets were included in some rations to purify water. The Navy distributed flak jackets and steel helmets on aircraft carriers to protect against injuries. Airforce pilots were protected by seat belts and wore flight jackets to keep warm in open cockpits. The Army distributed M1 helmets to all ground troops to protect them from shrapnel.
The issue of nutrition was an issue addressed by the military and civilian groups during World War II. Many draftees were found to be nutritionally deficient before entering the services and there was concern over the rations supplied to troops. A government board was established in 1940 to determine minimum dietary allowances. Seven basic food groups were identified, with recommendations for minimum daily intake of calories, protein, calcium, iron, Vitamin A, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), and Vitamin D. There was also concern for the general public at that time, which led to bakeries fortifying white bread with various vitamins and minerals. The innovations in nutritional science made for healthier and more productive soldiers and citizens at home and overseas.
There were also improvements in how health care was provided for sick and wounded soldiers. Recognizing that reaching and treating wounded men on the battlefield as soon as possible was important, the military reorganized its chain of evacuation and created various levels of hospital care. A triage system was implemented to determine what treatment each person required, where he should be sent for the proper care, and to ensure the most serious cases were given priority. Medics, often attached to regular combat groups, went into battlefields to care for and evacuate wounded soldiers. If not seriously hurt, men were transferred to first aid stations about one mile from the front for minor illnesses and injuries. Once stabilized, seriously wounded men could be evacuated by ambulance, jeep, or air, and there were different hospitals, some specialized, farther back from the battlefield ready to treat the injuries. Mobile hospitals positioned close to the battlefield could be re-situated based on where the front was located and were capable of surgery and had medical wards for recovering men. If more care was needed, field hospitals usually were within 30 miles of the battlefields and were ready to treat the most seriously wounded; and there were specialized hospitals for specific ailments, and convalescent hospitals as well.
New techniques for surgical procedures and improvements in medical care delivery were developed during World War II. Doctors developed new techniques for vascular repair surgery, and metal plates began to be used to treat fractures, which reduced the healing time. To treat gunshot and other open wounds, doctors used a white powder called sulfanilamide as a disinfectant against the growth of bacteria. And surgeons discovered that removing dead tissue from wounds led to fewer amputations. Dentists adopted better practices that led to better dental health and fewer problems for soldiers. Unlike World War I, there were motorized ambulances and mobile x-rays, leading to faster diagnosis and care for patients. There were also innovations in reconstructive surgery and better prosthetics to help amputees.
Breakthrough medications, such as penicillin and plasma, saved thousands of lives in World War II and reduced recovery times. Additionally, medical care became more efficient through the reorganization of hospitals and the use of a triage system; and air transport made it possible to move critically ill patients from battlefields to a surgeon’s operating table in less than one hour in some cases. Survival rates increased and the time for recovery was shortened for many men. The push for better nutrition changed both the military and civilian lives and had a lasting effect on the health of future generations, as did better dental care techniques. The use of vaccines and preventive measures to reduce illnesses or possible injury also continued post-war. Many of these advances – from penicillin to surgical techniques – are still used today.