
The prevalence of ‘incidental maggots’ is well documented in World War I, particularly in the case of wounded foot soldiers who, after spending weeks in the trenches, were transferred to field hospitals for treatment. Their foul-smelling dressings led surgeons to expect the worst decomposition and infection. What they found instead were perfectly clean wounds. Incidental maggots had been at work, removing the dead flesh, destroying the bacteria and promoting healing.



