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Akshitha Ag
AP US History
Period 4
1/9/18
Medical Revelation
While the Civil War came to an end, it established the rebirth of a new nation as well as
the end of slavery, but it also created a new era in the field of medicine. The destruction of war,
the casualties, and the immense amounts of disease required a more in depth knowledge of
medicine. This period inspired primitive treatments and practices which captivated people in the
field of medicine, aspiring physicians, and the common man and woman to be a part of this new
revelation. This was a time when women emerged as leading heros for many soldiers who, for
them, provided the only hope of seeing their families again or being able to continue to fight.
With the Sanitary Commission created, nurses like the famous Clara Barton found techniques to
care for the wounded and improve the medical environment. Science was advancing with
techniques such as amputations, which had never been thought of before, to help save someone’s
life. Although the Civil War changed the fates of many people with a fortunate stroke of
serendipity, it also created a medical marvel which inspired tremendous growth in healthcare.
The Civil War took many lives, but it sped up the progression of medicine, influencing practices
and techniques that are still being used today. Many of America’s medical accomplishments
At the time of the war, the causes of major diseases or infections which affected many
soldiers were not well known. However, conditions were seemingly getting better for patients as
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doctors came in contact with different illnesses which made them learn more information and
techniques to treat patients. People now were using distilled water for drinking, and eventually
with experimentation, people knew boiling water killed bacteria (Gillett, “Achievements and
Failures During the Civil War”). A common condition among the soldiers, diarrhea and
dysentery, was troubling medical officers. Though not much known about this, trial and error
was the only hope for progress, as medical officers realized the sanitation of water was a major
contributor diarrhea. There was little control over the purity of the water that the fighting men
drank, but doctors took immediate care to ensure the purity of the water their patients drank.
Consuming rainwater, distilled water, and boiled water, as mentioned before, were seen as a way
to prevent diarrhea and dysentery (Gillett, “Achievements and Failures During the Civil War”).
In Harper’s Weekly, the Sanitary Commission had published the “Rules for Preserving the
Health of the Soldier,” this document shows the various amounts of injuries and medical
teachings that would help treat the wounded during war. It shows what medical officers should
do to maintain their knowledge and be up-to-date with current diseases and treatments being
used. This was a new advance and today, doctors need to know all the various injuries and
medical treatments to treat their patients. Doctors and physicians were said to read many medical
articles and were advised to know all the signs and conditions of a particular problem to seek a
cure or treatment (“Rules for Preserving the Health of the Soldier”). From the Library of
Congress, a picture, “Wounded soldiers gather outside of a field hospital after Battle of the
Wilderness in May of 1864.” showed how severe health conditions were for some soldiers.
Wounded soldiers gathered around hospitals, the picture greatly showing how inconvenient and
unorganized the medical camps and hospitals were around this time, as it portrayed how the
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injured laid around the ground waiting for doctors to come treat them (“Dixon, Modern
Medicine's Civil War Legacy). There were many causes of injuries, head injuries being the most
terrifying during the Civil War. As doctors did not have the technology that we have today, it
was difficult to treat any head injury since not many doctors knew what was causing soldiers to
act differently after an injury in the head had been incurred. Gunshot wounds to the head
compressed of traumatic wounds in the brain, but localization and anesthesia were not precise,
therefore sometimes causing mistreatment and potentially death. However, as medicine was
evolving, doctors were more skilled at treating and understanding head injuries and anesthesia
was also being tweaked in order to fully help the patient (Kaufman HH1, "Treatment of Head
Injuries in the American Civil War”). During hard times like these, wounded patients would
write letters to their loved ones for comfort. A letter from Robert Ware to his sister recounts
Ware's work as an inspector with the United States Sanitary Commission and a surgeon. He talks
about his injuries and how he became wounded following a battle outside Richmond. His letters
showcase how severe some wounds were and he longs for his family, again, showing how nurses
were needed for support to make patients comfortable in desperate needs (Ware, letter).
Wounds deeply affected not only the soldier's body, but his mind and his heart. Nurses
were needed to take care of psychological problems and accompany the wounded soldiers to
provide comfort. As doctors were familiarizing themselves about the prevention and treatment of
infectious diseases, medicine was transforming into quality care. The United States Sanitary
Commission’s efforts to save ill soldiers set the pattern for future organizations like the
American Red Cross (Dixon, “Modern Medicine's Civil War Legacy”). Anxiety about war and
an increasing number of deaths,and injured soldiers, many of who would most likely not be
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coming home, all required of nursing and practical medical care. Psychological care became a
normal part of treatment, talking to the patient and interacting with them were tricks to helping
them get better. People who had amputated limbs and permanently damaged soldiers required
nursing and often constant attention for the rest of their lives. (Baker, "The Civilian Experience
in the Civil War"). However, when efforts failed and soldiers died, mourning was certain.
Sometimes, bodies were not available for ritual burial, and funerals occurred so often, it was
difficult for families, doctors and nurses to handle (Faust, "Death and Dying"). Due to the high
number of deaths, many soldiers had to be buried, which led to disease from the decomposition
of bodies. This would cause more diseases to spread so doctors had to keep the environment
Care by men and women was as simple as standing with the soldiers who were injured
until their last minute. Caring for patients during the war focused on the palliation of a
chronically ill, or seriously ill, patient's pain and symptoms, and attending to their emotional and
spiritual needs (“Our women and the war”, newspaper). The conditions of war and medical help
brought people together to care for others, not only for their family, but for strangers as well. A
picture from Harper’s Weekly shows a woman aiding a soldier at her house with her own
materials, a simple deed, but an immense amount of help for the soldier. Acts like these were
quite common around this time as people got together to help save as many lives as they could
which was another accomplishment as desire to save lives grew (Alcott, “Hospital sketches”).
Nurses were trained clearly to learn to help a soldier at any cost. The Civil War gave nurses an
official introduction to medicine and helped them establish a medical system. (Burns, "Behind
the Lens: A History in Pictures"). Kate Cumming, who was born in Scotland, volunteered as a
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nurse in America at a time when many male doctors did not want women in their hospitals. Her
writing showcased the horror encountered by some women in caring for the wounded, but this
did not stop her from pursuing her career as a nurse, as she continued to save people. Nursing in
the Civil War was a rough experience for women as the industry was originally dominated by
men, but women made tremendous contributions to the care for the sick and injured soldiers
(Burns, "Behind the Lens: A History in Pictures") They ventured into unsanitary hospitals to
provide care to their men. At the beginning of the war, women saw the need for occupations such
as nursing, famous nurses, including Kate Cumming, kept a written record of their experiences
which was significant because it showed how strong nurses had to be which is how doctors and
physicians attitudes are now. (MacLean, "Diaries of Civil War Nurses"). The medal of honor was
created due to the Civil War. The immense amount of fierce fighting and deadly wounds as well
as major death was recognized and the medal of honor was established. Women nurses
volunteered for many reasons, patriotism being the main one. Some nurses worked for particular
regiments; others became involved through relief organizations like the United States Sanitary
Commission. Medicine for women, greatly impacted their lives, women were becoming more
respected as they took on professions such as nursing to help save lives of many soldiers.
Medical supplies were scarce, and people would usually make their own
equipment when needed in an emergency. Usually when injured in the head, stomach or heart,
surgeons would just put those who suffered these injuries off to the side because death was
almost a certainty. Although this sounds morbid, it spared time for emergency cases that could
be fixed, such as injuries to the arm or the leg, both of which could be amputated (Tooker,
“Antietam: Aspects of Medicine, Nursing and the Civil War”) . For soldiers on the battlefield,
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quick and available care was difficult to get access to. 1st Lieut. Alfred R. Glover had a
travelling kit which he used over the course of his battles. It was used as his backup when he or a
friend injured himself, his pharmaceutical kit was considered a first aid tool for immediate help
(Unknown, “Traveling homeopathic pharmaceutical kit). Many surgeons were either highly
qualified or not at all qualified. This outraged many soldiers, thinking they were not receiving
accurate care for their wounds. Eventually, this stressed many qualified surgeons to further teach
rising doctors and physicians to perfect their treatment (Thompson, "Eyewitness to Battle").
After the Civil War as well as throughout the course of the war, field commanders were urged to
actually take care of patients that were injured. Contract surgeons were hired during war to care
for injured soldiers. Charles Henry’s biography shows how medicine changed his life. He went
to a Pennsylvania medical college and went into the medical corps, and soon he joined as a
contract surgeon (Phalen, "U.S. Army Medical Corps Biographies: Brigadier General Charles
Henry Alden"). Major changes occured to the medical service in the Union Army because
wounded soldiers were constantly left behind on the field of battle and received inadequate care
and supplies (Bateson, Catherine, “Under the fascinating charm of the clear bugle notes”) . So
the ambulance was made as a form of transportation to move the soldiers from one place to
another (“Dixon, Modern Medicine's Civil War Legacy). This was a significant accomplishment
because moving a soldier from one place to another required more than one person to carry the
injured soldier, the ambulance made it easier and more efficient for transportation (Wynn, Jake.
Amputations were a new process which saved many people's lives. Before amputations,
wounded soldiers would usually live with their injured body part, however, most would die due
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to infection so doctors needed a way to stop them from dying and created the technique of
amputations. While doing amputations, anesthesia was used. Nurses were called "sawbones."
While doing an amputation, the doctor would take a flap of skin from another part of the
soldier’s body and cover up the wound or the amputated section. Then they would tie off any
limbs or arteries with horsehair (unknown, Civil War Battlefield Surgery”). Amputations
depended on the efficiency of the surgeon. Civil War surgeons were more interested in speed
rather than the cleanliness of the hospital environment, not knowing about the danger of disease
survived through the aid of his wife who nursed him. He spent the most time with his wife, who
offered him tea, food, and comfort. Eventually, he returned to work with the rest of his arm
functioning. A “‘How To’ Guide for Civil War Surgeons” was an official guide for all surgeons
who were new to this practice and showed many techniques and allowed many descriptions for
surgeons to fully understand new methods (unknown, Civil War Battlefield Surgery”).
The famous and courageous Stonewall Jackson had a few physical and health conditions.
Jackson was often clumsy on the battlefield this was due to sleep deprivation on Jackson's battle
decisions in light of experimental data driving current calls for limiting the duty hours of
Robert E. Lee. was a hot topic for physicians. They were unfamiliar with this particular disease
and used pediatrics on him, which kept him functioning. After more was learned about this
disease, treatments were advanced with particular treatments and drugs such as antidepressants
Clara Barton, who was born in Massachusetts, was greatly influenced by her parents who
favored abolition and championed women's rights. She was a teacher, nurse, Civil War heroine,
and founder of the American Red Cross. Clara Barton wrote down challenges the medical
professionals faced in these ghastly surroundings. Out of all the medical professionals on the
field and in the hospitals, surgeons had to be the most brave and the most trained ("Clara Barton:
teacher, nurse, Civil War heroine, founder of the American Red Cross."). Chloroform was used
during the Civil War when it was available. The use of chloroform as an anesthetic greatly
reduced the torture and trauma of the procedure. The chloroform was applied to a cloth and held
over the soldier's nose and mouth until the man was unconscious. Medicine inspired many to
write books, poems, and many forms of literature during and after the Civil War (Haushofer,
Lisa. "EXAMINATION."). Nurses saving soldiers from almost dying and soldiers courageous
acts in the battlefield created the Medal of Honor. The immense amount of fierce fighting,
deadly wounds, significant number of deaths were recognized, and the Medal of Honor was
established. This was an accomplishment as it recognized people and their strengths which
The Civil War caused countless deaths from wounds, injuries, and mistreatment, and so
many other reasons-both medical and non medical, but the Civil War was also a learning and
growing experience for the medical field. The various injuries of the soldiers required doctors
and physicians to gain accurate knowledge in order to treat them. Clara Barton and the Sanitary
Commision placed the primary focus on improving the medical system, and from there, advances
in the treatment of soldiers, more sanitary hospitals, and new advances, such as the ambulance,
influenced practices, techniques, and treatments that are still being used today. Most of
America’s medical history had its starting roots from the Civil War.
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Works Cited
Alcott, Louisa May, excerpt from “Hospital sketches,” Digital Public Library of America,
http://dp.la/item/4bf53ed6e62c49970f981023893a51b8.
Baker, Jean. “The Civilian Experience in the Civil War.” Goucher College,
Bateson, Catherine. ““Under the fascinating charm of the clear bugle notes” Medicinal Civil
Burns, Stanley B. “Behind the Lens: A History in Pictures.” Nursing in the Civil War,
www.pbs.org/mercy-street/uncover-history/behind-lens/nursing-civil-war/. Accessed 10
Jan. 2018.
“Clara Barton: teacher, nurse, Civil War heroine, founder of the American Red Cross.”
Dixon, Ina. “Modern Medicine’s Civil War Legacy.” Civil War Trust, 29 Oct. 2013,
Gillett, Mary C. “The Army Medical Department, 1818-1865.” chapter 13. Achievements and
Failures During the Civil War, edited by David F. Trask, CENTER OF MILITARY
HISTORY UNITED STATES ARMY WASHINGTON D.C., 1987, p. 256. THE ARMY
history.amedd.army.mil/booksdocs/civil/gillett2/amedd_1818-1865_chpt13.html.
remedianetwork.net/2013/01/21/examination-death-and-dying-during-the-american-civil-
Manuscript.
Kaufman HH1. “Treatment of Head Injuries in the American Civil War.” Journal of
MacLean, Maggie, editor. “Diaries of Civil War Nurses.” Civil War Women WOMEN OF THE
Our Women and the War, from Harper’s Weekly, September 6, 1862. 1862. Smithsonian
Institution,
collections.si.edu/search/results.htm?q=record_ID%3Asaam_1996.63.120&repo=DPLA.
Phalen, James M., Colonel, U. S. Army, Retired. “U.S. Army Medical Corps Biographies:
Brigadier General Charles Henry Alden.” U.S. Army Medical Department Office of
(JANUARY 1940) Published on the U.S. Army Medical Department Office of Medical
www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/civil-war/1861/august/soldiers-health.htm.
Thompson, David L. “Eyewitness to Battle.” Triage: Napoleon to the present day. Accessed 10
Tooker, John. “Antietam: Aspects of Medicine, Nursing and the Civil War.” Transactions of the
Unknown, “Traveling homeopathic pharmaceutical kit,” Center for the History of Medicine:
http://collections.countway.harvard.edu/onview/items/show/6046.
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Ware, Robert, “Autograph letter signed : Whitehouse Landing, Va., to Fanny [Ware].,” Center
http://collections.countway.harvard.edu/onview/items/show/6075.