Medicine During the Civil War - 1813 Words

Medicine During the Civil War 1861-1865 When Walt Whitman wrote that he believed the real war would never get into the books, this is the side he was talking about (Belferman 1996). Yet, it is important that we remember and recall the medical side of the conflict too, as horrible and terrifying as it was (Adams 1952). Long before doctors and people knew anything about bacteria and what caused disease was the time of Civil War medicine. Doctors during the Civil War (always referred to as surgeons) were incredibly unprepared. Most surgeons had as little as two years of medical school because very few pursued further education. At that time, Harvard Medical School did not even own a single stethoscope or microscope until well after the†¦show more content†¦The hospital was normally located near the front lines (sometimes only a mile) and was identified with yellow flag with a green H. This process started in the Federal Army from 1862 and on. Many people have a mental picture of a Civil War surgeon being a heartless individual that was the cause of so many fatalities involving amputations and unclean operations. In reality, this is a false statement. The medical director of the Army of the Potomac, Dr. Jonathan Letterman, wrote this report after the battle of Antietam: The surgery of these battle-fields has been pronounced butchery. Gross misrepresentations of the conduct of medical officers have been made and scattered broadcast over the country, causing deep and heart-rending anxiety to those who had friends or relatives in the army, who might at any moment require the services of a surgeon. It is not to be supposed that there were no incompetent surgeons in the army. It is certainly true that there were; but these sweeping denunciations against a class of men who will favorably compare with the military surgeons of any country, because of the incompetency and short-comings of a few, are wrong, and do injustice to a body of men who have labored faithfully and well. It is easy to magnify an existing evil until it is beyond the bounds of truth. It is equally easy to pass by the good that has been done on the other side. Some medical officers lost their lives in theirShow MoreRelatedMedicine During The Civil War1548 Words   |  7 PagesDuring the Civil War, medicine was an important aspect for every soldier due to the fact that many soldiers had to fight and ended up with injuries also there were many types of illnesses. In this essay, I will focus on the advance of medicine during the Civil War. Also how the soldiers and civilians were treated as well as how sanitize their location was, are questions I will try to answer. Also, I will like to include some of most known causes of deaths during the Civil War and the types of diseasesRead More Medicine During the Civil War Essay1796 Words   |  8 Pages Medicine During the Civil War 1861-1865 nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;When Walt Whitman wrote that he believed the â€Å"real war† would never get into the books, this is the side he was talking about (Belferman 1996). Yet, it is important that we remember and recall the medical side of the conflict too, as horrible and terrifying as it was (Adams 1952). Long before doctors and people knew anything about bacteria and what caused disease was the time of Civil War medicine. Doctors during the Civil WarRead MoreAdvancements in Med-Care since the Civil War Essay1461 Words   |  6 PagesAmerican Civil War often gets credit for ending slavery and reshaping the federal government in this country. But the war between the states has another, often overlooked legacy: It may have started a new era in modern medicine† (â€Å"Civil War Medicine Quotes†). Contamination of medical equipment, poor sanitation methods, and lack of efficient medical procedures all led to the spread of disease, which resulted in death. Howeve r, modern medicine has significantly improved from the Civil War, due to itsRead MoreEssay about Civil War Medicine1201 Words   |  5 Pages During the Civil War, they had to have many medicines, operations, and surgeries done to themselves or others in order to survive (Jenny Goellnitz, Paragraph 1). Some of these medicines we still use today. Medical technology and scientific knowledge have changed dramatically since the Civil War, but the basic principles of military health care remain the same. The deadliest thing that faced the Civil War soldier was disease. For every soldier who died in battle, two died from disease. The soldiersRead MoreThe Slang Term For Doctors Of The Civil War1325 Words   |  6 PagesSawbones is the slang term for doctors of the Civil War. How an esteemed figure like as doctor could be associated with such a name might come as a surprise to those unaware of the gruesome medical tactics used on both sides of the war. A bonesaw, which is exactly what it sounds like, was a tool commonly used by doctors of the war to amputate limbs beyond repair caused by various types of weaponry, primarily gunshots. However barbaric they may seem, the medical treatments and procedures used on woundedRead MoreThe Civil War Was A Devastating Time For The United States Of America883 Words   |  4 PagesThe Civil War was a devastating time for the United States of America. During this time the United States was divided. The Civil War was a four year long battle. It is known as one of the bloodiest battles ever fought. Consequently it was fought between people of the same country. We were divid ed between the North and the South. The cause of the Civil War was slavery. The North was against it and wanted slavery abolished. On the other hand the South did not want to part with slavery. Both the NorthRead MoreEllianne Heppler. Mr.David. Research Project. 05/08/2017.1700 Words   |  7 PagesDavid Research Project 05/08/2017 The Civil War and how it happened with A Little Twist! Think of the darkest place that terrifies people to their very core and then multiply that times 100. During the Civil War a lot of bad things happened from April 12, 1861 – May 9, 1865. On April 12, 1861 The Battle of Fort Sumter happened to be one of the least casualties battles. No one was hurt until a shot was accidentally misfired. That is what started the war. But that was the least of their worriesRead MoreThe Civil War Has A Tremendous Death Toll1368 Words   |  6 PagesThe Civil War had a tremendous death toll. In fact, it had more deaths than any of the previous wars combined. At the time, it was thought that the soldiers in battle died from the wounds or amputations they received. The true cause of death came from disease. These harsh conditions were contributed by unqualified doctors and non-sterile equipment. During the Civil War, the true issue was not only the wounds received in battle but the infectious diseases that ultimately led to the soldier’s dea thRead MoreThe Civil War : A Bloody Time For Everyone Alive1541 Words   |  7 Pages If the Civil War could be described in only one word, that one word would be tragedy. Such a bloody time for everyone alive in what is now know as The United States of America. The Civil War took pace in the years of 1861-1865 there were multiple reasons as to why the Civil War broke out but the number one reason for the Civl War was, the diverse opinions on the issue of slavery. Slavery was such a horrific thing going on at this time in history, but not all people who owned slaves treated themRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Of Abraham Lincoln s Gettysburg Address 1669 Words   |  7 PagesFinal Take-Home Questions AUHIS 454: the Civil War Zoraa Lutas QUESTION 1 Abraham Lincoln speech given at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on November 19, 1863 was described by Senator Charles Sumner, in 1865, stating â€Å"the battle itself was less important than the speech.† Explain. U.S. President Abraham Lincoln was not given the spotlight at the Soldiers’ National Cemetery on November 19, 1863, and was instead invited to give a few remarks. In fact Edward Everett’s speech would have been the official