The confederate surgeon was faced with more hardships than his northern brother in the pursuit of the practice of medicine. Choice a thoroughly researched and detailed analysis of the civil wars powerful impact on american medicine. Walt whitman remarked on the plethora of hospitals around washington d. The encyclopedia of civil war medicine 2012 excerpt and text search. Learning from the wounded university of north carolina press. There are many civil war medicine pictures which show grizzly scenes. Keith wilbur takes you on a detailed and fascinating tour through the medical history of this bloody and devastating war. Civil war medicine was nothing like you would expect to see in todays world. While medicine had not advanced much since the middle ages, weapons had become very proficient at killing and causing horrible wounds.
Confederates under the leadership of general robert e. During the civil war, both sides were devastated by battle and disease. Medicine would advance significantly over the next several years, but it was too late for those wounded during the civil war. In this wellresearched and wellwritten book, alfred jay bollet, md, a clinical professor of medicine at yale university who has published numerous articles on civil war healthcare, shows us an. Nurses, surgeons, and physicians rose to the challenge of healing a nation and advanced medicine into the modern age. Below are some of the records at nara where you may find medical information about soldiers. How world war i revolutionized medicine the atlantic. These books were used in civil war medicine and contributed greatly to the medical personnel during the war. Strategies for finding materials related to medicine. Challenges and triumphs is wellorganized, approachable to the noncivil war history buff or those lacking in a medical background, addresses both confederate as well as union history a standard failing in many civil war works, and dispells many myths about the standards of civil war medical practices. Civil war union surgical manuals and medical books. Civil war medical books and civil war surgical sets.
Some students took the extra step of apprenticing with a practicing physician, but the vast majority of doctors had little to no hands on experience before encountering their first. Lee hoped to achieve a victory on union soil that could end the civil war with southern independence. The brutal reality of the war pushed doctors to a new level of medical and surgical knowledge. A guide to civil war materials in the rare book, manuscript, and special collections library duke university. Civil war medicine civil war academy civil war academy. 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. Donofrio, president of the society of civil war surgeons, inc. Medicine in the united states was woefully behind europe. Bollet is a licensed medical doctor, and he is able to offer rich contextual.
Up to that time most practitioners had learned medicine by apprenticeship but this began to change in the early nineteenth century. He seems to be gloss over the surgery and amputation section rather quickly compared to other aspects of civil war era medicine. I had only one other book on civl war medicine and this one only added more to my civil war library. From the stench of putrefying flesh wafting through. The war is better known as the first mass killing of the 20th centurywith an estimated 10 million military deaths alone. This era is often referred to in a negative way as the middle ages of medicine in the united states. The author takes particular focus on the holistic approach that doctors had and the various medicines they used, many of which did nothing. Try searching on jstor for other items related to this book. Civil war medicine articles american battlefield trust. Michael echols buys civil war medical books,surgery manuals, and surgical sets. Civil war medicine tells the story of assistant surgeon james fulton of the 143rd penn. Medicine, in world war i, made major advances in several directions. Fultons diary and the essays by preeminent experts in the field of civil war medicine reveal the story of the birth of our modern health care system.
I bought this book at the pea ridge civil war battlefield near bentonville, arkansas, with the intent of using it as story material. Michael echols buys civil war medical and surgery books, manuals, and surgical sets. The involvement of african americans in medicine in the civil war era is an untold chapter in our history. 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 challenges were met. Union surgeon james dana benton witnessed firsthand the suffering and death brought about by the ghastly wounds, infections, and. Smart news keeping you current civil war plant remedies actually fought off infections, study finds researchers tested the antimicrobial properties of three plants mentioned in an 1863 treatment book. 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. Medical practitioners had no knowledge of germ theory or antiseptic practices.
Follow in the footsteps of soldiers, surgeons, and more to discover how civil war medicine continues to change lives today. In particular, i needed to know about victorian battlefield practices, what a physician would carry, and other difficulties of the period. This new scientific research confirms that folk medicine used in the civil war actually did fight. Buy a cheap copy of civil war medicine illustrated living. Civil war medicine illustrated living history series. This essay series is written by mercy streets medical, historical and technical advisor, stanley b. Modern perspectives on civil war medicine 2009, notre dame and the civil war 2010, galveston and the civil war 2012, and a chapter in civil war america. Dr bollet has done us a service by putting before us this fascinating account of the medicine and surgery practised in the american civil war, by clearing up many of our misconceptions, and by explaining to us the syndromes encountered in those long, bloody, and disease infested campaigns. This book is an incredible resource for anyone interested in the human experience of the civil war. Many misconceptions exist regarding the quality of care during the war.
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. Bollet has written a first rate book on the practice of military medicine in the civil war. Eleven southern slave states declared their secession from the united states and formed the confederate states of america, also known as the confederacy. Though some students took an added step of apprenticing with an already practicing physician, the vast majority of doctors had little to. Six ways the civil war changed american medicine 150 years ago, the historic conflict forced doctors to get creative and to reframe the way they thought about medicine. For students preparing to enter the field, medical training focused largely on book knowledge. A compilation of important data and other interesting and valuable matter relating to the war between the states, 18611865. Civil war surgery and the evolution of american medicine 2005 394 pp. The day of the battle of antietam, a number of factors hung in the balance as the union and confederate armies clashed in the bloodiest single day in american history. I bought this book to prepare for giving tours of a new civil war medical exhibit at a local museum. Records of the department of veterans affairs, 1773 2007. Prior to the civil war, american medicine was still in a dark age. A collection of civil war era surgical manuals and medical books for the u. Bollet offers a well researched and well written monograph that explores the evolution of medicine throughout our most terrible national tragedy.
Approximately 115,000 disapproved pension applications submitted by soldiers. National museum of civil war medicine, frederick, maryland. The civil war and the rise of american medical science, in which she examines the civil wars impact on medicine. Generally, civil war doctors underwent two years of medical school, though some pursued more education. Good summary of basic information relating to civil war medicine. It deserves a wide readership among advanced students, researchers, and faculty. 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.
Harold ellis, emeritus professor of surgery university of london. 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. Civil war medicine american medicine was still in a dark age. Shauna devine talked about her book learning from the wounded. Medicine guide to civil war materials duke university. Gutheries commentaries on the surgery of war, notes on the surgery of the war in the crimea, the treatment of gunshot wounds, stromeyer on. National museum of civil war medicine home facebook. Six ways the civil war changed american medicine science. Well written and detailed, this book is a must for any civil war medical enthusiast. The book, titled resources of the southern fields and forests, was published in 1863.
The encyclopedia of civil war medicine by glenna r. Challenges and triumphs is wellorganized, approachable to the noncivil war history buff or those lacking in a medical background, addresses both confederate as well as union history a standard failing in many civil war works. Keith wilbur takes you on a detailed and fascinating tour. I am the author, editor, or contributor to five books on the civil war, including lincolns labels 2008, years of change and suffering. Consult the duke university libraries online catalog. The answer is the recently released paperback edition of the encyclopedia of civil war medicine. Amputation in the civil war south university of georgia press, 2015. Video, historian george wunderlich highlights the complexities and discusses the innovations in medical practices throughout the civil war. The american civil war is the most read about era in our history, and among its most compelling aspects is the story of civil war medicine the staggering. The american civil war 18611865 was a civil war in the united states of america. The south suffered much from lack of supplies during most of the war between the states. Explore free books, like the victory garden, and more browse now. The political genius of abraham doris kearns goodwin. It really doesnt matter much which side, although medically speaking you were a little better off if you.
Medical and surgical care during the american civil war. Civil war plant remedies actually fought off infections. Books civil war medicine research guides at virginia. Hospital stewards manual, hand book of surgical operations, grays anatomy, descriptive and. Medical books about civil war medicine and surgery. No previous book has so thoroughly focused on the conflicting social, political, and cultural meanings of surrender in any united states war.
Medical care during the civil war was rather primitive. The strength of civil war medicine is the interdisciplinary approach that bollet utilizes. This video is part of the american battlefield trusts in4 video series, which presents short videos on basic civil war topics. Challenges and triumphs is the final word in the history of medicine in the civil war. Now available at a more wallet friendly price this is a book that any serious civil war student should consider putting on their bookshelf.