Frogs, lice, mice and worse
There were two types of rats in the trenches. The black rat and the brown rat. The brown rat was the most feared of the two because they would gorge themselves in the human remains, disfiguring them by eating their eyes and liver. They could grow up to the size of a cat. These rats often scampered across the troops faces in the dark which frightened them and caused them to go to extreme measures by trying to get rid of the rat infestation by gunfire, bayonets and clubbing them to death. A single one of these rats could produce up to 900 offspring in a year which spread infection and contaminated food.
Rats were by no means the only source of infection. Lice were a constant problem, breeding in the seems of clothing and causing the men to itch night and day. It was very difficult for the men to get rid of this problem because washing them would not affect the eggs. Lice caused Trench Fever. An especially painful disease that began suddenly with severe pain and high fever. This could take up to 12 weeks to recover from. Lice were not discovered as the culprit of this until 1918.
Frogs and slugs were found in shell holes covered in water, they were also found in the base of trenches and covered the sides.
Rats were by no means the only source of infection. Lice were a constant problem, breeding in the seems of clothing and causing the men to itch night and day. It was very difficult for the men to get rid of this problem because washing them would not affect the eggs. Lice caused Trench Fever. An especially painful disease that began suddenly with severe pain and high fever. This could take up to 12 weeks to recover from. Lice were not discovered as the culprit of this until 1918.
Frogs and slugs were found in shell holes covered in water, they were also found in the base of trenches and covered the sides.