Lifesavers And Body Snatchers

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The perception of medical care on the Great War battlefield often evokes images from the American Civil War, but this is a misconception. Medical care, particularly within Canadian services, was advanced and continuously evolving, resulting in a significantly higher number of wounded soldiers saved than lost. The experiences of civilian doctors who served in the military during the war led to important changes in Canada’s health policies, particularly after the 1918-19 Spanish flu pandemic, which claimed 50,000 Canadian lives. Ironically, the war, despite its devastation, propelled advancements in both military and civilian health care. However, the narrative extends beyond medical progress; it also unveils the disturbing exploitation of human body parts during the conflict. Tim Cook has dedicated over a decade to uncovering the hidden history of Canadian doctors who harvested body parts from fallen soldiers, sending at least 1,200 individual specimens, including brains and bones, to the Royal College of Surgeons in London. These body parts were not only stored but also displayed in exhibitions in London, Montreal, and Hamilton in the early 1920s. This work provides a comprehensive medical history of the Canadian forces during the Great War and examines the medical advancements that emerged from such a tragic period.