Journal of Military and Veteran’s Health - JMVH

"From Milites Medici to Army Medics – A two thousand year tradition of military medicine" by Robb Wesselingh, published in the Journal of Military and Veterans’ Health (JMVH). The article explores the historical development of military medicine, asserting that many significant medical advances originated during times of conflict, citing examples from the Napoleonic Wars and World War II. It then focuses heavily on the Roman Empire, specifically detailing how Emperor Augustus's military reforms established a professional medical corps (milites medici) and led to the creation of the first organized military hospitals, the valetudinaria. Furthermore, the source discusses how these military innovations, particularly regarding sanitation and public health principles, were subsequently adopted by the civilian population, demonstrating the lasting impact of military medical practice.

You can read the original article here: https://jmvh.org/article/692/

"The Australian Army’s Two ‘Traditional’ Diseases: Gonorrhea and Syphilis — A Military-Medical History During the Twentieth Century" by Ian Howie-Willis details the military-medical history of gonorrhea and syphilis within the Australian Army throughout the twentieth century. The author, Ian Howie-Willis, focuses on demonstrating the statistical scale of these sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)—or venereal diseases (VD)—during major overseas deployments, from the Boer War to the Vietnam War. It contrasts the difficult, prolonged treatments before the mid-1940s introduction of penicillin with the shorter hospital stays afterward, noting how the availability of a rapid cure increased soldier complacency and led to high infection rates in later conflicts like the Occupation of Japan and the Vietnam War. The article concludes that VD was a major, persistent problem for the Australian Army, resulting in an estimated over 125,000 cases treated across the century.

You can read the original article here: https://jmvh.org/article/the-australian-armys-two-traditional-diseases-gonorrhea-and-syphilis-a-military-medical-history-during-the-twentieth-century/

"Comparing PTSD Among Returning War Veterans," by Wayne Kinney focuses on the physical and psychological wounds sustained by military personnel in the Iraqi and Afghan Wars, particularly comparing their experiences and diagnoses, such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), with veterans from earlier conflicts like the Vietnam War and the Persian Gulf War. It highlights that advances in medicine and technology have resulted in a higher survival rate but also more numerous and complex injuries, including poly-trauma and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Furthermore, the text analyzes key demographic and clinical differences between veterans of these wars, noting variations in substance abuse rates, violent behavior, and the distinct challenges faced by female service members.

You can read the original article here: https://jmvh.org/article/comparing-ptsd-among-returning-war-veterans/

"Musculoskeletal Injury and Physical Fitness Across US Army Occupational Specialties" by Tyson Grier, Regis Pearson, Timothy Benedict , Olivia Mahlmann and Michelle Canham-Chervak  examines the connection between musculoskeletal injury and physical fitness across various US Army military occupational specialties (MOS). The research details the methodology, which involved surveying soldiers and obtaining data on injuries and performance from the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT), revealing significant differences in injury incidence and physical fitness scores across MOS groups for both male and female soldiers. Ultimately, the investigation aimed to describe these associations and suggests that monitoring injury and fitness by MOS could help focus injury prevention strategies within the Army.

You can read the original article here: https://jmvh.org/article/musculoskeletal-injury-and-physical-fitness-across-us-army-occupational-specialties/

"A Review of Art Therapy Among Military Service Members and Veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder" by Jeremy Ramirez reviews the use of art therapy for military service members and veterans diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The author argues for implementing art therapy programs, particularly because the current preferred treatment—Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)—is often ineffective in treating the avoidance/emotional numbing cluster of PTSD symptoms. The review details the prevalence of PTSD, noting that factors like combat trauma and military sexual trauma (MST) are significant causes, and explores various risk factors for suicide among veterans, such as divorce and homelessness. Ultimately, the article concludes that art therapy, which involves activities like drawing and photography, provides a more comprehensive care package when used in conjunction with CBT, due to its effectiveness in helping patients express nonverbalized trauma and reduce core PTSD symptoms.

You can read the original article here: https://jmvh.org/article/a-review-of-art-therapy-among-military-service-members-and-veterans-with-post-traumatic-stress-disorder/

"CHEMICAL AGENTS Contact Poisons: A Brief Touch," by Dr Andrew Robertson examines the risks and characteristics of contact poisons, which are substances absorbed through the skin to cause toxic effects or death. While acknowledging that these agents are often sensationalized in popular media and crime fiction, the author stresses that many military, industrial, and agricultural chemicals pose a genuine contact risk that medical professionals must recognize. The discussion differentiates between highly potent agents like nerve agents (e.g., VX) and more commonly available industrial toxins such as pesticides and organic solvents, which can also be fatal. Finally, the article explores the role of solvents like Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) in enhancing percutaneous absorption by disrupting the skin's lipid barrier, a mechanism exploited in both pharmaceutical research and certain criminal plots involving poisons like ricin or nicotine.

You can read the original article here: https://jmvh.org/article/chemical-agents-contact-poisons-a-brief-touch/

"Fast women: Or why women who fly high performance aircraft are fast but not loose," by Tracy Smat examines the challenges and issues surrounding women entering the historically male-dominated field of fast jet aviation, particularly within the Royal Australian Air Force. The text provides a historical overview of women in aviation, including their roles in World War II and the gradual integration into Western militaries. It then systematically discusses four main areas of concern that military health professionals must address: physiological differences (such as tolerance to G-forces and decompression illness), physical attributes (including strength, anthropometry, and ejection safety), specific women's health issues (like pregnancy and the menstrual cycle), and squadron cultural issues related to gender integration. Ultimately, the paper suggests that most physical and physiological barriers can be overcome through re-engineering of aircraft and equipment, concluding that the primary remaining obstacle to female fast jet pilots is the cultural acceptance by male aircrew.

You can read the original article here: https://jmvh.org/article/https-doi-ds-org-doilink-03-2023-57944985-jmvh-vol-7-no-1/

"Antibacterial Warfare: The Production of Natural Penicillin and the Search for Synthetic Penicillin During the Second World War - JMVH",  by Bruce Short examines the history of penicillin development during World War II, focusing on the rapid transition from laboratory study to mass production of natural penicillin through international military and scientific collaboration, involving forces from Britain, the United States, and Australia. The article details the crucial contributions of Oxford scientists like Florey, Chain, and Heatley, who were instrumental in developing the drug and its production methods, while also recounting the parallel but delayed wartime effort to synthesize penicillin which was not successfully completed until 1957. Furthermore, the source contrasts the Allies' success with the German commitment to sulfonamides, which hindered their early adoption of penicillin.

You can read the original article here: https://jmvh.org/article/antibacterial-warfare-the-production-of-natural-penicillin-and-the-search-for-synthetic-penicillin-during-the-second-world-war/

"A History of Australian Navy Health Officer Uniforms and Ranks (Part One)" by Dr Neil Westphalen details the evolution of Royal Australian Navy (RAN) officer uniforms and ranks, drawing parallels and distinctions with the British Royal Navy (RN) and their historical antecedents. It explores the historical context of naval organization, including the shift from 'tarpaulin' to 'gentlemen' officers and the development of commissioned and warrant ranks from the 11th century onwards. The text traces the introduction and changes in RN officer uniforms, noting how they moved from unique attire for each rank to standardized uniforms with rank insignia like sleeve stripes and distinction cloths. Furthermore, it examines the separate development and eventual integration of reserve force uniforms for both the RN and RAN, as well as women's naval services uniforms in both navies. Finally, the article discusses the addition of various warfare and sea readiness badges, highlighting the ongoing struggle for status within the naval hierarchy as expressed through uniform design.

As this podcast was produced using Artificial Intelligence (AI), it is not suitable for research, policy development or similar purposes. To such ends, the original article upon which it is based is available to read here: https://jmvh.org/article/a-history-of-australian-navy-health-officer-uniforms-and-ranks-part-one/