CIVIL WAR MEDICINE

General Medicine and Surgery No one called anyone “doctor,” it was always “surgeon.” No one called anyone “doctor,” it was always “surgeon.” At the start of the Civil War, the Union Army had 98 surgeons; the Confederates had 20 At the start of the Civil War, the Union Army had 98 surgeons; the Confederates had 20 10, 000 surgeons in the Union 10, 000 surgeons in the Union 4,000 in the Confederacy 4,000 in the Confederacy

MEDICAL TRAINING Doctors attended medical school for only 3 semesters for 13 weeks Doctors attended medical school for only 3 semesters for 13 weeks One year of book instruction with a few weeks of training; could repeat the year if they failed One year of book instruction with a few weeks of training; could repeat the year if they failed Most doctors were under-qualified Most doctors were under-qualified Surgeons were ill-prepared, they learned “on the job;” more people died as a result Surgeons were ill-prepared, they learned “on the job;” more people died as a result

IMPORTANT IDEA DEVELOPED DURING THE WAR: Medical personnel were considered “neutrals” and should not fired upon or taken prisoner. Medical personnel were considered “neutrals” and should not fired upon or taken prisoner.

DISEASE Disease killed more soldiers than bullets Disease killed more soldiers than bullets 2 out of 3 soldiers died from disease 2 out of 3 soldiers died from disease Measles, small pox, malaria and pneumonia, dyssentery Measles, small pox, malaria and pneumonia, dyssentery Mosquitoes carried many diseases Mosquitoes carried many diseases Poor sanitation: rotten food, refuse, excrement, urine, blood and decaying corpses Poor sanitation: rotten food, refuse, excrement, urine, blood and decaying corpses

DISEASE Dysentery and diarrhea killed more soldiers than anything else Dysentery and diarrhea killed more soldiers than anything else 995 out of every 1000 soldiers had chronic diarrhea 995 out of every 1000 soldiers had chronic diarrhea

SURGERY Amputations was the most common surgery performed Amputations was the most common surgery performed 3 out of 4 were amputations 3 out of 4 were amputations

Minie Ball The minie ball could kill up to 1000 yards The minie ball could kill up to 1000 yards The minie ball caused large, gaping holes and splintered bones, destroyed muscles, arteries and tissue beyond repair The minie ball caused large, gaping holes and splintered bones, destroyed muscles, arteries and tissue beyond repair

Minie Ball Because the minie ball smashed the bone so badly, amputation was the only solution Because the minie ball smashed the bone so badly, amputation was the only solution When the bullet hit the bone, it expanded When the bullet hit the bone, it expanded Those shot through the body or head were not expected to live Those shot through the body or head were not expected to live When it hit the “gut” (intestines) it tore it to bits When it hit the “gut” (intestines) it tore it to bits

Amputations minutes of sawing minutes of sawing Limbs dropped in a pile Limbs dropped in a pile Amputations saved more lives than were lost (75% of amputees survived) Amputations saved more lives than were lost (75% of amputees survived) The closer to the torso an amputation occurred, the greater chance of death The closer to the torso an amputation occurred, the greater chance of death

Amputations (cont) Surgeries were done quickly Surgeries were done quickly Lack of time and water meant that surgeons did not wash their hands Lack of time and water meant that surgeons did not wash their hands Bloody surgeon’s fingers would prod an open wound and infect patients Bloody surgeon’s fingers would prod an open wound and infect patients Blood poisoning and sepsis (puss in the blood) were deadly Blood poisoning and sepsis (puss in the blood) were deadly

ANESTHETICS Most operations were performed with an anesthetic. Most operations were performed with an anesthetic. There were no needles to deliver medicine, morphine was rubbed in the wound. There were no needles to deliver medicine, morphine was rubbed in the wound. Many soldiers became addicted to morphine and opium Many soldiers became addicted to morphine and opium Surgeons placed chloroform on a rag and placed it over a patient’s mouth/many died from chloroform poisoning Surgeons placed chloroform on a rag and placed it over a patient’s mouth/many died from chloroform poisoning

"In the operating tent, the amputation of a very bad looking leg was witnessed. The surgeons had been laboring since the battle to save the leg, but it was impossible. The patient, a delicate looking man, was put under the influence of chloroform, and the amputation was performed with great skill by a surgeon who appeared to be quite accustomed to the use of his instruments. After the arteries were tied, the amputator scraped the end and edge of the bone until they were quite smooth. While the scraping was going on, an attendant asked: 'How do you feel, Thompson?' 'Awful!' was the distinct and emphatic reply. This answer was returned, although the man was far more sensible of the effects of the chloroform than he was of the amputation "In the operating tent, the amputation of a very bad looking leg was witnessed. The surgeons had been laboring since the battle to save the leg, but it was impossible. The patient, a delicate looking man, was put under the influence of chloroform, and the amputation was performed with great skill by a surgeon who appeared to be quite accustomed to the use of his instruments. After the arteries were tied, the amputator scraped the end and edge of the bone until they were quite smooth. While the scraping was going on, an attendant asked: 'How do you feel, Thompson?' 'Awful!' was the distinct and emphatic reply. This answer was returned, although the man was far more sensible of the effects of the chloroform than he was of the amputation

TRIAGE Helping only those who have a chance to survive Helping only those who have a chance to survive Soldiers wounded in the head or belly were left to die. Soldiers wounded in the head or belly were left to die. Surgeons would stand over the operating table for hours without a break Surgeons would stand over the operating table for hours without a break Men screamed in delirium, crying out for loved ones; others were in shock Men screamed in delirium, crying out for loved ones; others were in shock

DENTISTRY Soldiers were turned down if they were missing more than six upper and lower teeth Soldiers were turned down if they were missing more than six upper and lower teeth Soldiers needed their teeth to bite off the end of powder cartridges to load the muzzle of their rifle. Soldiers needed their teeth to bite off the end of powder cartridges to load the muzzle of their rifle.

Mutter Museum Mutter Museum

Embalming Embalming became a science during the war: people wanted their dead relatives brought home in recognizable form. Embalming became a science during the war: people wanted their dead relatives brought home in recognizable form.

Civil War Casualties 624, ,511 Dead Dead 475,881 Wounded 475,881 Wounded 80,000 80,000 civilians killed civilians killed 1,500,000 horses killed 1,500,000 horses killed

Nurses Clara Barton – founded American Red Cross, nursed soldiers from Andersonville Clara Barton – founded American Red Cross, nursed soldiers from Andersonville She worked to distribute stores, clean field hospitals, apply dressings, and serve food to wounded soldiers in close proximity to several battles, including Cedar Mountain, Second Bull Run, Antietam, and Fredericksburg. [8]Cedar MountainSecond Bull RunAntietamFredericksburg [8]

Clara Barton (cont.) Friend of Susan B. Anthony & Frederick Douglas Friend of Susan B. Anthony & Frederick Douglas The American Red Cross deals w/ refugees to natural disasters to all wars The American Red Cross deals w/ refugees to natural disasters to all wars Died at 90 of TB Died at 90 of TB

Dorothea Dix Superintendent of Army nurses Superintendent of Army nurses Founded the first mental asylums for the ‘indigent insane’ Founded the first mental asylums for the ‘indigent insane’ Only wanted and plain looking Only wanted and plain looking “In a world where there is so much to be done, I felt strongly impresses that there must be much for me to do.”

Andersonville – CW Prisons Largest of all Civil War Prisons, and most deadly Largest of all Civil War Prisons, and most deadly more than 45,000 Union soldiers were confined here. Of these, almost 13,000 died from disease, poor sanitation, malnutrition, overcrowding, or exposure to the elements.

Andersonville - Layout Ft Sumner