Amputation

By Miranda Campbell

Amputation surgical removal of all or part of a limb or extremity such as an

arm, leg, foot, hand, toe, or finger. Amputation of the leg above or below the
knee is the most common amputation.

 1861-1865: 70% of wounds were to the

extremities 35.6% upper extremities, and
35.2% lower extremities.
Minie Balls- shattered bones and mangled
tissuses
60,000 amputations

Dr. George Fordyce Newells medical kit (above) was typical of

that used by a Civil War surgeon. At a minimum, these kits
consisted of two surgical saws, cutting pliers, a curved probe,
clamps, a retractor, a brush, and trepanning instruments.
Surgeons would use the probes to inspect a wound before using
the clamps, retractor, and saws for the amputation surgery itself.

"The limbs of soldiers are in as much danger from the

ardor of young surgeons as from the missiles of the enemy."
-Surgeon Julian John Chisholm, 1864

Cheesy and unrealistic video showing

how amputations were performed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pla
yer_detailpage&v=QCpvTj6dAng

The bullet severed the capillary artery and

shattered the lower end of the femur thighbone.
Amputation was found to be necessary, chloroform
was administered and Dr. [Harvey] Black performed
the amputation. Varicose hemorrhage was so
excessive that all the veins were tied, rend[er]ing
the operating very protracted and tedious. Findley
bore it well and the anesthesia acted fine.
John Samuel Apperson

Works Cited
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