title: Nursing typhus victims in the Second World War, 1942-1944: a discussion paper.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article explores the care British nurses provided to victims of typhus during the Second World War.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Typhus is associated with poverty and overcrowding. During wars in the pre-antibiotic era, civilians were particularly susceptible to epidemics, which military governments feared would spread to their troops.
  
  
  METHODS
  This discussion paper draws on archival data from three typhus epidemics in the Second World War to examine the expert work of British nurses in caring for victims during these potential public health disasters.
  
  
  METHODS
  The published sources for the paper include material from nursing and medical journals published between 1940-1947. Archival sources come from the National Archives in Kew, the Wellcome Library and the Army Medical Services Museum, between 1943-1945. Of particular interest is the correspondence with Dame Katharine Jones from nurses on active service overseas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Whilst epidemics of typhus are now rare, nurses in the present day may be required to care for the public in environments of extreme poverty and overcrowding, where life-threatening infectious diseases are prevalent. This article has demonstrated that it is possible for expert and compassionate nursing to alleviate suffering and prevent death, even when medical technologies are unavailable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Expert and compassionate care, adequate nutrition and hydration and attention to hygiene needs are crucial when there are limited pharmacological treatments and medical technologies available to treat infectious diseases. The appreciation of this could have implications for nurses working in current global conflicts.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, Manchester University, UK; Director, UK Centre for the History of Nursing and Midwifery, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brooks
mesh_terms: D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D014438:Typhus, Epidemic Louse-Borne / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing*; D006113:United Kingdom; D047789:World War II
keywords: compassionate care; history of nursing work; nursing in the Second World War; typhus; wartime nursing practices