Trenches were very nasty and in very unstable living conditions. When it rained the water filled up the trenches which caused a lot of discomfort and damage to the trenches. Soliders would dig a hole just to use the bathroom in it. infections and diseases also occurred, common diseases and infections that occurred; Trench foot, shell shock, blindness/burns from mustard gas, lice, trench fever, cooties (body lice) and the ‘Spanish Flu’.