Pearson History GCSE – Medicine and Western Front past paper (2018)
1) Describe two features of blood transfusions on the Western Front during the First
World War.
One feature of blood transfusions was the use of sodium
citrate. This was to prevent the blood clotting.
Another feature of blood transfusions was the use of citrate
glucose. This meant that blood could be stored for up to 4
weeks.
(Received 4/4)
2) Study sources A and B.
How useful are sources A and B for an enquiry into the
treatment of battle injuries by medical staff on the Western
Front?
Source A is useful because it teaches us that treatment was
very efficient. For example, in the source, we can see nurses
treating some soldiers with major injuries meaning they were
good at preventing soldiers from dying and preventing
infection to wounds. This is also seen in the source where we
can see multiple people tending to the injuries suggesting
that they were able to provide very good care and had lots of
people to care for the soldiers. Therefore, source A is useful
because it teaches that they were able to give the best care
possible.
Source B is also useful because it teaches us that they
struggled to care for all the soldiers that were injured. This
is demonstrated where Appleton writes “hundreds upon hundreds”
suggesting that there were lots of soldiers who required care
from the nurses. She also says “large numbers of horribly bad
wounds” meaning that the injuries they had to deal with were
severe and took a lot of care and attention. During World War
One, despite advancements such as the Thomas Splint,injuries
were still really hard to treat which is confirmed where it
says “amputating limbs”. Therefore, source B is useful because
it accurately demonstrates the problems they faced whilst
treating battle injuries. The fact that it was written by
Edith Appleton in her book “a nurse on the front” is useful
because it shows a first hand account of treating soldiers on
the Western Front.
(Received 6/8)
3) How could you follow up source A to find out more about the
treatment of battle injuries by medical staff on the Western
Front?
1) Describe two features of blood transfusions on the Western Front during the First
World War.
One feature of blood transfusions was the use of sodium
citrate. This was to prevent the blood clotting.
Another feature of blood transfusions was the use of citrate
glucose. This meant that blood could be stored for up to 4
weeks.
(Received 4/4)
2) Study sources A and B.
How useful are sources A and B for an enquiry into the
treatment of battle injuries by medical staff on the Western
Front?
Source A is useful because it teaches us that treatment was
very efficient. For example, in the source, we can see nurses
treating some soldiers with major injuries meaning they were
good at preventing soldiers from dying and preventing
infection to wounds. This is also seen in the source where we
can see multiple people tending to the injuries suggesting
that they were able to provide very good care and had lots of
people to care for the soldiers. Therefore, source A is useful
because it teaches that they were able to give the best care
possible.
Source B is also useful because it teaches us that they
struggled to care for all the soldiers that were injured. This
is demonstrated where Appleton writes “hundreds upon hundreds”
suggesting that there were lots of soldiers who required care
from the nurses. She also says “large numbers of horribly bad
wounds” meaning that the injuries they had to deal with were
severe and took a lot of care and attention. During World War
One, despite advancements such as the Thomas Splint,injuries
were still really hard to treat which is confirmed where it
says “amputating limbs”. Therefore, source B is useful because
it accurately demonstrates the problems they faced whilst
treating battle injuries. The fact that it was written by
Edith Appleton in her book “a nurse on the front” is useful
because it shows a first hand account of treating soldiers on
the Western Front.
(Received 6/8)
3) How could you follow up source A to find out more about the
treatment of battle injuries by medical staff on the Western
Front?
