Trench foot
Trench foot can be prevented by keeping the feet clean, warm, and dry. It was also discovered in World War I that a key preventive measure was regular foot inspections; soldiers would be paired and each made responsible for the feet of the other, and they would generally apply whale oil to prevent trench foot. If left to their own devices, soldiers might neglect to take off their own boots and socks to dry their feet each day, but if it were the responsibility of another, this became less likely. Later on in the war, instances of trench foot began to decrease, probably as a result of the introduction of the aforementioned measures; of wooden duckboards to cover the muddy, wet, cold ground of the trenches; and of the increased practice of troop rotation, which kept soldiers from prolonged time at the front.
Surgical treatment of ingrown toenails
If the nail becomes ingrown again after a wedge resection, more invasive surgery may be needed, although this rather drastic measure may not be necessary: less invasive repeat treatments such as destruction of the nail bed, should be considered. This surgery takes longer than the minor wedge resection. The toe is torniqued and incisions made from the front of the toe to around 1 cm behind the rear of the visible part of the nail. These incisions are quite deep and will require stitching and will also scar. The nail will then be cut out, much like a wedge resection and the nail bed will be broken to prevent regrowth. The nail will be significantly narrower and may appear visibly deformed but will not become ingrown again. Note: if undertaking this surgery it is advisable to rest for at least four days before resuming regular walking as even with painkillers this can be very very painful. If one's work requires standing up for extended periods of time, arrangements for time-off may be necessary for up to two weeks.