From Gus’ Gear today I am going to look at some bandages. I will start with German and try to keep on topic, but I fear that I will wonder off topic very quickly. Bear in mind that this is not a definitive presentation of bandages, but the examples I have on hand in my own collection as the title “Gus’ Gear” implies.
To get the best flow with the photos and text, just click on the first photo and read the sidebar and then click on the arrow on the right side of the photo to continue.
Starting with a nice example of the Esmarch bandage, while not a bandage that was issued to soldiers, it still has an interesting connection to military history of Germany. It was designed by Johannes Friedrich August von Esmarch who lived from 1823-1908. In 1848 he served as a junior surgeon and by the time of the Franco-Prussian War in 1870, he was appointed surgeon-general to the German Army. His special interest was in first aid and he designed this bandage that could be used as a bandage, sling or tourniquet with the instructions illustrated on the bandage. As early as 1903, the American company, Johnson & Johnson printed a similar bandage for their first aid kits.
These are German individual bandages, the two on the top were what the German soldier would have sewn into the small pocket in their Bluse or Waffenrock. The one on the lower right is the same, but has instruction printed in Bulgarian for issue to Germany’s ally. The one on the lower left is the same type of dressing, but in a paper wrapper, these would have been used in dressing stations and hospitals.
On the left is an Italian soldier’s personal bandage and on the right is the wrapper for a Russian bandage. The Russian bandage dimensions are 1 vershok wide and 10 arshin long (1¾ inch wide and 26⅔ feet long). The text is in Russian and German, it is not known if this was produced for use by German personnel in occupied lands or by the Russians.
These bandages are French, the top would have been used in dressing stations or hospitals and the lower one is what the Poilus were issued for personal use.
Here are two U. S. bandages in waterproof paper wrappers, this type of dressing is what the medics carried in the pockets of their belts, the one on the top is dated 1917 and the lower one is dated 1918.
Here are two U. S. bandages in waterproof paper wrappers, this type of dressing is what the medics carried in the pockets of their belts, the one on the top is dated 1917 and the lower one is dated 1918.
This is an example of a 1916 Army contract bandage with the brass container opened to reveal the bandage with a length of gauze tape to tie the bandage in place, as well as printed instructions on its application. This was obtained from an ebay seller that thought it would enhance the value of his item if he opened it to show that the contents were intact. I had been looking for a cheap example to open myself to show the contents and I was able to buy this one for a fraction of the cost of an unopened one. And I did not have to feel bad about damaging an artifact for the sake of display.
This is an example of a 1916 Army contract bandage with the brass container opened to reveal the bandage with a length of gauze tape to tie the bandage in place, as well as printed instructions on its application. This was obtained from an ebay seller that thought it would enhance the value of his item if he opened it to show that the contents were intact. I had been looking for a cheap example to open myself to show the contents and I was able to buy this one for a fraction of the cost of an unopened one. And I did not have to feel bad about damaging an artifact for the sake of display.
This is a box of three bandages produced a month before the United States declared war on Germany. This type of bandage was used for instruction of troops.
This is not actually a bandage, but was used to prevent infection. It is a chemical pro kit that is probably post war in production, but has nice graphics on the package.
Staying with the pro kit theme, this is a WWI vintage chemical prophylactic that still has the two tubes of cream and instruction for use (reorder instruction are on the back). The chemicals are so caustic that they have dissolved the lead tubes they are contained in over the past 100 years. The product name is Viro and could be ordered postage free, direct from the supplier for 30 Pfinnig for the smallest size or 1 Mark for the largest.