Foot Powder

Gift of Helen Ward, 2006.231.008

In the hot, wet environments of Pacific battlefields servicemen faced numerous medical threats, particularly to their feet. Athlete's foot and, in severe cases, jungle rot could take a man out of the fight and special care was taken to prevent these diseases as well as more common issues such as blisters and sores. Foot powder, originally issued to combat trench foot during the First World War, was ideally applied to feet daily to help combat these conditions.