Medicine in the Civil War | chemungcocivilwar

Bandages, Bone Saws, and Germs: Medicine in the Civil War

A soldier wounded in battle first went to a dressing station just beyond the musket fire. There he was stabilized if possible and sent on foot to the regimental field hospital 3-5 miles away. The more seriously wounded were transported by ambulance. At the field hospital surgeons performed quick and dirty operations to try and save the soldiers. Those who survived were sent by river or rail to general hospitals to recover with the help of hospital stewards and nurses. But the general unsanitary conditions were a bigger killer than bullets. Roughly three out of five soldiers died of disease.

Back

In the Army Now

Elmira Military Hospital, 1864 At many hospitals, soldiers who were less sick or only slightly wounded were expected to nurse, feed and clean the other patients.	Harper's Weekly, July 12, 1862 A medical field kit included bandages, lint, opium pills and morphine, whiskey or brandy for quickly stabilizing the wounded. Illustration courtesy of harpersweekly.com
Ambulance Corps Zouave soldiers demonstrate the removal of wounded soldiers by ambulance from the field of battle. Image courtesy of www.loc.gov	Wounded at Savage Station Each regiment had a surgeon and two assistant surgeons that sometimes had to work three to four days straight amputating limbs and tending wounds. Image courtesy of en.wikipedia.org
Armory Hospital, Washington, DC Washington, DC was the hospital center for the Union army. In 1861 there were only 2000 hospital beds but by the end of 1864 there were 16 hospitals.	Harper's Weekly, April 9, 1864 Female nurses working for the army and the Sanitary Commission cared for wounded soldiers. Along with medical care, nurses served as mother-substitutes writing letters, reading to patients and decorating wards. Illustration courtesy of harpersweekly.com
Pro Patria, plaster sculpture by Samuel Conkey	Surgical Kit containing nine instruments that was used during the Civil War
Field chair of Dr. T.H. Squires Dr. Truman Hoffman Squires of Elmira was surgeon for the 89th Regiment, GAR and was Director of Field Surgery under General Burnside.	Prosthetic Arm worn by John Y. Carpenter who served in Co. C, 141st New York Volunteers

Bandages, Bone Saws, and Germs: Medicine in the Civil War

Elmira Military Hospital, 1864

At many hospitals, soldiers who were less sick or only slightly wounded were expected to nurse, feed and clean the other patients.

Harper's Weekly, July 12, 1862

A medical field kit included bandages, lint, opium pills and morphine, whiskey or brandy for quickly stabilizing the wounded. Illustration courtesy of harpersweekly.com

Ambulance Corps

Zouave soldiers demonstrate the removal of wounded soldiers by ambulance from the field of battle. Image courtesy of www.loc.gov

Wounded at Savage Station

Each regiment had a surgeon and two assistant surgeons that sometimes had to work three to four days straight amputating limbs and tending wounds. Image courtesy of en.wikipedia.org

Armory Hospital, Washington, DC

Washington, DC was the hospital center for the Union army. In 1861 there were only 2000 hospital beds but by the end of 1864 there were 16 hospitals.

Harper's Weekly, April 9, 1864

Female nurses working for the army and the Sanitary Commission cared for wounded soldiers. Along with medical care, nurses served as mother-substitutes writing letters, reading to patients and decorating wards. Illustration courtesy of harpersweekly.com

Pro Patria, plaster sculpture by Samuel Conkey

Surgical Kit containing nine instruments that was used during the Civil War

Field chair of Dr. T.H. Squires

Dr. Truman Hoffman Squires of Elmira was surgeon for the 89th Regiment, GAR and was Director of Field Surgery under General Burnside.

Prosthetic Arm worn by John Y. Carpenter who served in Co. C, 141st New York Volunteers