What alternative treatment was recognized during WW1 that had not been widely used before?

The recognition of saline solutions for shock treatment during World War I marked a significant advancement in medical practices at the time. Saline was utilized to address the critical condition of patients suffering from shock, which could be a result of significant blood loss or other traumatic injuries. Previously, treatments for shock were less standardized and effective.

The introduction of saline solutions provided a means of restoring fluid balance and electrolyte levels, which was vital for stabilizing patients. This method illustrated a shifting understanding of the physiological needs of trauma patients, contributing to better survival rates.

The other options, while important advancements in medicine, do not specifically reflect the development recognized during World War I. Surgery under general anesthesia had been in practice prior to the war; natural antiseptics were recognized but not as significantly impactful during this period as antiseptic methods; and physical rehabilitation practices evolved later, gaining prominence after the war as more attention turned to recovery and rehabilitation of soldiers.