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Everyday Things Designed During WWI  

sexyldy1000 68F  
10139 posts
11/13/2020 11:13 am
Everyday Things Designed During WWI


There are many everyday items that we take for granted and likely have no idea of their origin. For example, gas mask filters were used as disposable handkerchiefs after the war. Often, Items created for the war had to be repurposed following the war. Here are some others:

Plastic Surgery
Plastic surgery emerged as a way to treat soldiers with facial injuries. The modern idea of plastic surgery and the techniques used today originated in WWI due to the injuries from the use of explosives such as artillery, machine guns, and chemicals.Dr. Harry Gillies developed the techniques to rebuild faces after so many noses were lost, and performed over 11,000 plastic surgeries on the wounded during the war.

Kotex
One hundred years ago, it wasn’t considered proper to talk about your period. During the war,<b> army </font></b>nurses did not have sanitary products provided to them. They found that the Cellucotton bandages made of wood pulp to treat wounds were five times more absorbent than other bandages, and used them as a makeshift sanitary napkin. After the war was over, Kimberly-Clarke executives were looking for ways to use the leftover Cellucotton, and marketed them as sanitary napkins.

Prosthetics
Prosthetics were created during WWI to assist soldiers with devastating injuries. The Germans were leaders in prosthetics, which did exist before the war but were advanced during and after the war because of the substantial number of limbs that were lost. The increase in casualties resulted in developing more functional limbs, specifically for arms, so that soldiers could be more accepted and welcomed back into society.

Wristwatches
Timepieces known as wristlets were sold during the 19th century. However, they failed to take off with men until World War I demonstrated their superiority to pocket watches in ­battle—particularly for military leaders who were co­ordinating precision attacks.

Blood Banks
Blood transfusions date back to the 1600s, but doctors rarely performed them before World War I, when they were accomplished by transfusing blood directly from one person to another. Capt. Oswald Robert­, a U.S. Army Reserve doctor consulting with the British army, recognized the need to stockpile blood before casualties occurred. In 1917, he helped establish the first blood bank on the western front.

Modern Passports
In hopes of restoring tourism throughout Europe, the League of Nations issued guidelines for uniform passports in 1920. The standard documents were to include a cover embossed with the issuing country’s name and coat of arms—the same basic look they have today in almost every country, including Canada.

Contraception
The popularization of reliable contraception was for health purposes. Venereal disease [such as gonorrhea and syphilis] disabled many soldiers, and manpower was lost, creating a strong incentive to manage a contraception effort. Antibiotics had not yet been discovered to treat such infections, so “prophylactic stations” were set up to distribute condoms. One of the prophylactics that were available in France were called ‘French Letters.’ [For discretion] soldiers could go into a pharmacy and ask for a French Letter that came in a little envelope.”


*Source: Readers Digest November 10, 2020

sexyldy1000 68F  
9607 posts
11/13/2020 11:22 am

During Remembrance Week there have been lots of tributes to veterans. Those that have followed my blog, know I enjoy trivia and have a quest for interesting information. Hence I decided to share the facts listed above.

Do you know the history of other items that have existed since WWI?


Tmptrzz 61F  
107039 posts
11/13/2020 11:33 am

Great blog my friend, who knew so many things were designed for WW!. I hope you enjoy your Friday..

Seduce the mind and see what a wonderful adventure the body will take you on..


pocogato12 71F  
37235 posts
11/13/2020 12:18 pm

I knew a few of these but getting new mental info is a treat Thank You

(Virtual Symposium Group) use Virtual Symposium Group


thumper440216330 61M
2665 posts
11/13/2020 12:35 pm

Interesting


Paulxx001 66M
22642 posts
11/13/2020 1:17 pm

Hmmm.. interesting.


resant78 45M  
3326 posts
11/13/2020 2:19 pm

oh wow! these are fascinating! Thank you!


redrockrascal 65M
23580 posts
11/13/2020 3:01 pm

Another interesting post SL very cool

When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.


powercaps716 67M  
83116 posts
11/13/2020 4:23 pm

great information.......thanks


1deprivedhusban2 62M

11/13/2020 6:17 pm

These are a few more items developed during WW1.
Trench coats.
Daylight savings
Stainless steel
Tanks
Paper hankies "Kleenex"
Pilates
Vegetarian sausage


trixietrixster 56F  
3125 posts
11/13/2020 7:23 pm

Some great facts here - thank you! The "wristlet" nowadays is a little purse thing with a strap that goes round your wrist, a great invention for women. They are great, all kinds of designs, colors, etc ...

In Luv, Lite, Laffter ...


easyrider4008 67M
2562 posts
11/14/2020 3:24 am

It's a pity that war is the inspiration for so many things where might we be if destruction was not the inventors aim.


sexyldy1000 68F  
9607 posts
11/14/2020 8:07 am

    Quoting Tmptrzz:
    Great blog my friend, who knew so many things were designed for WW!. I hope you enjoy your Friday..
Thank you! You know I like to share information . Have a great weekend.


sexyldy1000 68F  
9607 posts
11/14/2020 8:07 am

    Quoting pocogato12:
    I knew a few of these but getting new mental info is a treat Thank You
Glad you learned some new things. Thanks for stopping by.


sexyldy1000 68F  
9607 posts
11/14/2020 8:08 am

I thought so and that's why I posted the information


sexyldy1000 68F  
9607 posts
11/14/2020 8:09 am

Yes, I agree and why I posted the details.


sexyldy1000 68F  
9607 posts
11/14/2020 8:09 am

    Quoting resant78:
    oh wow! these are fascinating! Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed the information. Thanks for stopping by.


sexyldy1000 68F  
9607 posts
11/14/2020 8:10 am

Thanks. I thought others might learn something new


sexyldy1000 68F  
9607 posts
11/14/2020 8:11 am

Glad you enjoyed the details. Thanks for dropping by


sexyldy1000 68F  
9607 posts
11/14/2020 8:12 am

    Quoting 1deprivedhusban2:
    These are a few more items developed during WW1.
    Trench coats.
    Daylight savings
    Stainless steel
    Tanks
    Paper hankies "Kleenex"
    Pilates
    Vegetarian sausage
Yes, i knew about those too but decided to limit the details I listed. Thanks for dropping by and commenting


sexyldy1000 68F  
9607 posts
11/14/2020 8:13 am

    Quoting trixietrixster:
    Some great facts here - thank you! The "wristlet" nowadays is a little purse thing with a strap that goes round your wrist, a great invention for women. They are great, all kinds of designs, colors, etc ...
Yes, wristlets are great aren't they? Very convenient to use. Have a great weekend!


sexyldy1000 68F  
9607 posts
11/14/2020 8:14 am

    Quoting easyrider4008:
    It's a pity that war is the inspiration for so many things where might we be if destruction was not the inventors aim.
That's an interesting and thought-provoking perspective. Thank you for dropping by and sharing it.


Solfan55 69M
500 posts
11/15/2020 7:35 am

As the saying goes, necessity is the mother of invention. Thanks for another great read sexyldy!


sexyldy1000 68F  
9607 posts
11/15/2020 8:18 am

    Quoting Solfan55:
    As the saying goes, necessity is the mother of invention. Thanks for another great read sexyldy!
As well as reduce, reuse and recycle ♻️! Thanks for dropping by and taking a peek 👀.


ULIXBIG 69M
9288 posts
11/18/2020 1:38 am

Regarding th ‘French Letters’: the French used to cal them 'chapeaux anglais" (English hats).


sexyldy1000 68F  
9607 posts
11/18/2020 2:39 am

    Quoting ULIXBIG:
    Regarding th ‘French Letters’: the French used to cal them 'chapeaux anglais" (English hats).
Really? I wonder what the story behind that is as it’s different than stated in the source I used.


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