Medicine would advance significantly over the next several years, but it was too late for those wounded during the civil war. Apr 04, 2017 doctors and nurses were recruited from civilian hospitals to serve in the united states army medical corps, while others volunteered with the american red cross. After the war, some volunteer nurses went on lecture tours and wrote books and articles describing the men s gratitude for a woman s touch. Listed below are civil war medical books or manuals that are or have been in our collection. Margaret humphreys, josiah charles trent professor in the history of medicine at duke university. This published source contains information about civil war medical and surgical.
As the civil war began, the practice of medicine was emerging from the heroic era, with its theory of bringing a balance to the humors of the body. These accounts created a general impression that civil war nursing had been done by mostly elite white women volunteers and obliterated the roles of black, immigrant, working class and male nurses, maling says. While numerous books have recounted the history of medicine in the civil war, little has been said about the drugs that were used, the people who provided and. Civil war medicine american medicine was still in a dark age. As medicine advanced into midnineteenth century the devastating effect of the civil war contributed to advances in medical practices that lead to the birth of modern medicine. Some nurses did more than help the wounded and the sick. Articles on civil war medicine and surgery in this section are many articles dealing with the various subjects concerning civil war medicine and surgey during the civil war. Presenting the medical side of the war from a variety of perspectivesthe union, the confederacy, doctors, nurses, soldiers, and their familiesgangrene and glory achieves a peculiar immediacy by restricting its scope to the knowledge and perceptions available to its nineteenthcentury subjects. A civil war buff, he spent months combing the national archives in washington, the armed forces medical school and libraries in virginia and north carolina for information on confederate medicine. Great book with lots of information and illustrations about the state of medicine during the american civil war.
Hundreds of illustrations, combined with wellresearched and engaging text, tell the tale of the challenges presented to physicians with each new battle and the oftenheroic ways those. The author takes particular focus on the holistic approach that doctors had and the various medicines they used, many of which did nothing. National museum of civil war medicine this illustration shows the making of prosthetics in the late 1800s. Walt whitman remarked on the plethora of hospitals around washington d. Notes on the surgery of the war in the crimea, the treatment of gunshot wounds, 1862, by george macleod, m. Medical textbooks, civil war medical books, antique medical books, and rare medical books which were used during the civil war by surgeons both in the union and confederate armies.
Civil war medicine research guides at virginia commonwealth university. Publications american civil war surgery and medicine also found under. The civil war came at a time when there were very few advancements in terms of medicine and the treatment of injuries and ailments. She is the author of yellow fever and the south rutgers, 1992 and malaria. Nurses, surgeons, and physicians rose to the challenge of healing a nation and advanced medicine into the modern age. Civil war surgeons, medical colleges, medical authors, military medical publications, medical textbooks, books. Provides links to a variety of resources related to the medical aspects of the american civil war. Almost 150 patents were issued for artificial limb designs between 1861 and 1873. Collecting civil war medical and surgical text books. Hospitals were established at home and abroad to care for the sick and wounded, and new medical technologies, such as mobile xray machines and motorized ambulances, were used for the first time. Generally, civil war doctors underwent two years of medical school, though some pursued more education.
Join historian george wunderlich as he highlights the complexities of civil war medicine and discusses the innovations in medical practices throughout the. Medical practitioners had no knowledge of germ theory or antiseptic practices. Although their records are incomplete, confederates most likely performed around the same number of amputations. List of books and articles about nurses in wartime online.
Civil war medicine june 3, 2015 national archives and records administration u. Interesting facts about civil war medicine because they were so good at performing amputations, doctors were nicknamed sawbones. I can find the links, or point you to the sources there are quite a few books in various archives discussing how docs practiced during the war. Read the encyclopedia of civil war medicine by glenna r. Civil war medicine illustrated living history series. Before the war, the united states had a peace time army of 16,000 soldiers. The health of the black soldier in american civil war 2008 and marrow of tragedy. Unfortunately the format was a little annoying to read. This book is the first dedicated solely to military veterinary medicine.
Civil war union surgical manuals and medical books. Civil war medicine articles american battlefield trust. As nations have developed increasingly sophisticated weaponry with which to harm theirs enemies, medicine has had to adapt to cope with the volume and changing nature of the resulting casualties. May 06, 2020 civil war medicine a digital history collection. The civil war and the rise of american medical science, in which she examines the civil wars impact on medicine. Mary livermore wrote my story of the war covering four years as a nurse in the union army and in other relief work in homes, camps, hospitals and at the front. The ideas that replaced the theory of balance and imbalance are similar to what we know today about contagious diseases. From james mcphersons definitive history to tony horwitzs adventures among obsessives, here are the 11 best books on the civil war in time for the. 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. I bought this book to prepare for giving tours of a new civil war medical exhibit at a local museum. Examine a previously unexplored aspect of civil war military medicine. These books were used in civil war medicine and contributed greatly to the medical personnel during the war.
From the stench of putrefying flesh wafting through. Institute of medicine us committee on health effects associated with exposures during the gulf war. Of the 174,000 extremity wounds that the union recorded, almost 30,000 of them resulted in amputations. A collection of civil war era surgical manuals and medical books for the u. Civil war medical books and civil war surgical sets. Civil war medical books, civil war medicine a collection of medical text books based on the surgeon generals office library catalogue in 1840, 1864, and 1865 topics. Military medical and surgical essays prepared for the united states sanitary commission by various authors, 1864. Good summary of basic information relating to civil war medicine. Medical care during the civil war was rather primitive. The medical and surgical history of the war of the rebellion, 18611865. From civil war amputations to general civil war medicine, eventually all will be covered here.
Medicine in the united states was woefully behind europe. Medical books about civil war medicine and surgery. May 28, 2015 this video is about civil war medical documentary. The most comprehensive and interesting overview of american civil war medicine i have read to date. The conditions for prisoners of war were horrid and, at times, were nearly as bad for those wounded in battle. Union medical care improved dramatically during 1862.
It really doesnt matter much which side, although medically speaking you were a little better off if you. Even some of the most basic lifesaving techniques, such as cpr, were not heard of or developed at that time. Common types of primary sources include works of literature, historical documents, original philosophical writings, and religious texts. Just civil war medicine or civil war hospital gets a lot of hits i generally choose one written by the docs that were there. Oct 29, 20 during the civil war, both sides were devastated by battle and disease. Go to hathitrust and start coming up with search words. Its chapters outline the history and the diverse duties that make the practice. Keith wilbur takes you on a detailed and fascinating tour through the medical history of this bloody and devastating war. He seems to be gloss over the surgery and amputation section rather quickly compared to other aspects of civil war era medicine. Shauna devine talked about her book learning from the wounded. A copy of this text book is listed in the 1865 surgeon generals office library catalogue or the list of medical textbooks which were published during the civil war by the army medical department. Good books on civil war medicine medical care american. What marine recruits go through in boot camp earning the title making marines on parris island duration.
A primary source is a work that is being studied, or that provides firsthand or direct evidence on a topic. This essay series is written by mercy streets medical, historical and technical advisor, stanley b. At the start of the war, 24 went south and 3 were dismissed for disloyalty. Though some students took an added step of apprenticing with an already practicing physician, the vast majority of doctors had little to. There are many civil war medicine pictures which show grizzly scenes.
There was a lot in the book i had not heard before. Medical textbooks about civil war surgery and medicine. At the end of the war, there were over 12,000 doctors in the union army and over 3000 in the confederate army. By the end of the year each regiment was being regularly supplied with a standard set of medical supplies included medical books, supplies of medicine, small hospital furniture like bedpans, containers for mixing medicines, spoons, vials, bedding, lanterns, and numerous other implements. Marked usa hospital dept or usa medical department. Civil war related medical books currently in this collection. The encyclopedia of civil war medicine ebook by glenna r. Medical and surgical care during the american civil war, 1861.