“All engrossing, all-devouring war…”

Interesting exhibition in the library of the Royal Society of Medicine looking at medicine in the First World War.

This was arranged under fairly broad themes but there were some fascinating books. I was interested in the ones on plastic surgery and it was particularly nice to see a copy of the book by Gilles as so much has been made this year of the Tonks watercolours of soldiers Gilles was working on.

I liked the small practical books to be taken out to the front including illustrations on how to carry a stretcher. There was also a section on propaganda such as a book on the psychology of the Kaiser.

The home front was not forgotten with books on the control of drinking and rationing.

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