The state of medical knowledge at the time of the civil war was extremely primitive. There are gruesome factual stories and pictures from the era that depict the procedure. They died from a variety of diseases including dysentery, typhoid, malaria, and tuberculosis. Medicine in the united states was woefully behind europe. I had only one other book on civl war medicine and this one only added more to my civil. Civil war medicine a library of government and university studies on the development of medical practices during the civil war. Six books on the civil war these six histories of the civil war that are mustreads if you want to better understand the conflict a group of officers in culpeper, virginia reading.
Amputations in military surgery civil war medical books. Books civil war medicine research guides at virginia. Civil war medicine illustrated living history series. Great book with lots of information and illustrations about the state of medicine during the american civil war. The toll of the american civil war focuses on disabled veterans and their role as symbols of the fractured nation. Trying to name the top dozen civil war books of all time is, admittedly, a brazen act on my part. Medical books in the surgeon generals library during the civil war.
Civil war medicine articles american battlefield trust. Amputations in military surgery during the civil war were frequent and a procedure that those interested in civil war medicine are used to hearing about. Amputation in the civil war south university of georgia press, 2015. Sgo library 1865 printed catalogue medical antiques. Abolition and slavery agricultureanimal husbandry animalsveterinary science archaeology architecture archives and special collections art battles battlefields biological sciences books and magazines booksellers. It was a time before antiseptics, and a time when there was no attempt to maintain sterility during surgery. In particular, intestinal complaints such as dysentery and diarrhea claimed many lives. Nurses and nursing civil war medicine research guides at.
A collection of civil war era surgical manuals and medical books for the u. Civil war related websites american battlefield trust. A civil war center run by virginia tech that can help provide the up to the minute news from throughout the civil war community. Chapters include a description of the poor preparation of both governments for providing medical services at the beginning of the war, the state of medical science in the 1860s, the development of field hospitals and ambulance systems, and specifics on the. See information on the surgeon generals office library by wyndam miles. This site contains numerous pictures and information on civil war medical books, antique medical books, and civil. Weapons over medicine the era of the civil war was a time when weapons were far more advanced than medicine. Oct 29, 20 during the civil war, both sides were devastated by battle and disease. Institute of medicine us steering committee for the symposium on the medical implications of nuclear war. Challenges and triumphs is the final word in the history of medicine in the civil war. A narrative 19581974 is a three volume, 2,968page, 1. Civil war surgery and the evolution of american medicine 2005 394 pp. An environmental history of the civil war judkin browning. Harold ellis, emeritus professor of surgery university of london.
Sep 09, 2019 guide to resources related to civil war medicine information on nursing in the civil war. As evidenced in the book, civil war environmental history continues to perform a valuable service through highlighting and deepening our knowledge and appreciation of the many connections between the natural world and the civil wars military and home fronts. Medical and surgical care during the american civil war, 1861. Below are some of the records at nara where you may find medical information about soldiers. The strength of civil war medicine is the interdisciplinary approach that bollet utilizes. The borden institute was established in 1987 at walter reed army medical center in washington, dc, to foster and promote excellence in military academic medicine through the development and publication of military medical scholarship. The american civil war, 18611865, resulted from longstanding sectional differences and questions not fully resolved when the united states constitution was ratified in 1789, primarily the issue of slavery and states rights. Marked usa hospital dept or usa medical department. The museum is a very busy place, so i became a member to keep up with new programs, tours, outreaches, etc. Walt whitman remarked on the plethora of hospitals around washington d. Approximately 115,000 disapproved pension applications submitted by soldiers. Information found on this page includes videos about anesthesia, biting the bullet, and africanamerican surgeons.
Notice that the wounded do not have the benefit of shelter, and are left to suffer in the sun. They are often produced by experts in a particular field and are not intended to be read from covertocover. Records of the department of veterans affairs, 1773 2007. In fact, diarrhea and dysentery alone claimed more men than did battle wounds. Amputations in military surgery during the civil war by kevin thompson. United states history civil war, 18611865 include extended shelves you can also browse an alphabetical list from this subject or from. Medicine, in world war i, made major advances in several directions.
For every soldier who died in battle, two died of disease. Schroederleins the encyclopedia of civil war medicine comes in very handy. Medical training was just emerging out of the heroic era, a time where physicians advocated bloodletting, purging. Civil war surgeon information, medical officer swords, cdv images, descriptions and uses of antique surgical sets are discussed in detail. The brutal reality of the war pushed doctors to a new level of medical and surgical knowledge.
Bollet offers a well researched and well written monograph that explores the evolution of medicine throughout our most terrible national tragedy. Of the 620,000 soldiers who died during the civil war, around 400,000 of them died from disease and not from fighting. Civil war medical books is a site dedicated to the preservation and appreciation of medical and surgical manuals used in the civil war, especially those marked u. Get cozy and expand your home library with a large online selection of books at.
Physician and civil war history expert thomas sweeney explains the myths and realities of civil war medicine. This era is often referred to in a negative way as the middle ages of medicine in the united states. From the stench of putrefying flesh wafting through. Although previously known as a novelist, foote is most famous for this nonfictional narrative history. For medical practitioners in the field during the civil war, germ theory, antiseptic clean medical practices, advanced equipment, and organized hospitalization systems were virtually unknown. Index of civil war information available on the internet. Learning from the wounded university of north carolina press. Check out the useful links page for even more websites packed with useful information. Nurses, surgeons, and physicians rose to the challenge of healing a nation and advanced medicine into the modern age.
I am in the process of brainstorming a novel about the civil war and this book had more useful information than any i have. The national library of medicine commemorated the 150th anniversary of the civil. Americas civil war a segment of the real war has gotten into learning from the wounded. How world war i revolutionized medicine the atlantic. A reference book is a book that is used primarily to supply background information on a particular topic. Provides links to a variety of resources related to the medical aspects of the american civil war. Hicks and experts in civil war medicine provide context and additional information on the practice and development of medicine during the civil war, including the technology and methods available at the time, the organization of military medicine, doctorpatient interactions, and the role of women. There is a collection of civil war medical textbooks, surgeon information, bottles, books, and instruments.
Check out whats happening at the national museum of civil war medicine. Civil war surgeons at petersburg library of congress during the 1860s, doctors had yet to develop bacteriology and were generally ignorant of the causes of disease. Brintons brandy ticket holders will be treated to an exclusive tour of the national museum of civil war medicine before picking up their reserved bottle. This photograph of the field hospital at the battle of savage station gives the reader a better view of the conditions of civil war medicine than can be described in words. The encyclopedia of civil war medicine by glenna r. An excellent book for anyone interested in civil war medicine. Explore the experiences of civil war veterans in the online exhibition, use education resources in middleschool, highschool and undergraduate classes, take a closer look at civil war era texts in digital documents. Nevertheless, the books on this list are, indeed, my alltime favorites cherished works that. Search the worlds most comprehensive index of fulltext books.
By clicking on this link, readers are taken to information regarding the civil war and how medicine was practiced. The civil war field hospital at the battle of savage station. This single volume, which is ambitious in scope, covers all the major aspects of medical and surgical care during the civil war. The civil war soldier also faced outbreaks of measles, small pox, malaria. New york journal of books devine makes a convincing case that at least one good thing came from the horror of the civil war, namely the advancement of medicine. Doctors did not understand infection, and did little to prevent it. See the 1861 revised army supply table list of drugs for field and hospital, which is in latin, as are the labels for the various containers. Civil war surgeons, medical colleges, medical authors, military medical publications, medical textbooks, books. List of drugs carried in a civil war medical wagon. Medicine would advance significantly over the next several years, but it was too late for those wounded during the civil war. With the defeat of the southern confederacy and the subsequent passage of the xiii, xiv, and xv.
Civil war medical books and civil war surgical sets. Consultations for american civil war surgical sets. I bought this book to prepare for giving tours of a new civil war medical. Try searching on jstor for other items related to this book. To have an understanding of the daily life of a soldier, be he either confederate or federal, during the american civil war, one must have a basic knowledge of the medical terms and practices of the time.
Keith wilbur takes you on a detailed and fascinating tour through the medical history of this bloody and devastating war. Finding reference books american civil war libguides at. The encyclopedia of civil war medicine 2012 excerpt and text search. Generally, civil war doctors underwent two years of medical school, though some pursued more education. Civil war medicine research guides at virginia commonwealth university.
Evaluating internet research sources civil war information. Many misconceptions exist regarding the quality of care during the war. The medical and surgical history of the war of the. While medicine had not advanced much since the middle ages, weapons had become very proficient at killing and causing horrible wounds.