What is Trench Foot?
Trench foot is a fungal infection of the feet. It is caused by prolonged exposure to damp, cold conditions and poor environmental hygiene. While in battle, the soldier's feet were rotting away.The feet become red, numb and swolen. Blisters and sores begin to appear and the feet start to turn blue. Sometimes the condition becomes so bad they have no other choice but to amputate their toes. In the first year of the war, 20 000 British soldiers suffered serious trench foot. To reduce the risks from the disease, British troops were ordered to carry three pairs of dry socks and to change them three times a day.