How bad a problem was trench foot in a World War 1?
The feet become numb, swollen and turn red. Blisters and sores appear and the feet become blue. The sores become infected with fungi. Unless there is prompt treatment the whole foot can become gangrenous resulting in amputation. In the first year of the war some 20,000 British soldiers suffered serious trench foot. To reduce the risks from the disease British troops were ordered to always carry three pairs of dry socks and to change them three times every day.
