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Civil War Medicine. Disease: The Number One Cause of Death. Most men did not die on the battlefield, but in a bed due to disease. Union Battle Deaths/Wounds – 110,070 Disease – c. 250,000 Confederacy Battle Deaths/Wounds – 94,000 Disease – 164,000. Medical Supplies .
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Disease: The Number One Cause of Death • Most men did not die on the battlefield, but in a bed due to disease. • Union • Battle Deaths/Wounds – 110,070 • Disease – c. 250,000 • Confederacy • Battle Deaths/Wounds – 94,000 • Disease – 164,000
Medical Supplies • When supplies were brought to the warfront, ammunition was sent first, then rations, and then medical supplies. • Medical equipment was bulky and hard to move, so they were often inaccessible. • Surgical instruments were used on soldier after soldier without much more than a cleaning with water.
Surgery/Treatment • Anesthesia was new and so several hundred surgeries were performed with no anesthesia. • People often did not wash their hands before treating a wound. • At this time people did not know about the transmission of bacteria. • Men would put dirty rags over their wounds
In order to stop hemorrhaging doctors would pack the wound with powerful astringent or chemicals often causing more harm. • It was expected that wounds would fester and there was no relief, no pain killers or antibiotics.
Nurses • At the outbreak of the war, the armies nurses consisted of barely trained men. • Approximately 2000 women in the North and South volunteered as nurses. • This was a dangerous job, but many wanted to be at the frontlines. Clara Barton Dorthea Dix
The Sanitary Commission • Private relief organization created in 1861 • Believed that the government did a poor job of taking care of the health, comfort, and welfare of the soldiers, so they volunteered to help. • Inspected cooking, clothing, and sanitation of Union soldier encampments.
Journal • Predict what it might be like to be a wounded soldier during the Civil War. Describe the day. Include the following: How did you get hurt? What was the surgery like? What are the conditions like? Who did you meet? How do you feel? Are you scared of anything?
Bibliography • Content • "The Civil War Army Surgeon and His Work." The American Civil War Home Page. Web. 01 Dec. 2010. <http://civilwarhome.com/armysurgeon.htm>. • "Casualties and Costs of the Civil War." Digital History. Web. 01 Dec. 2010. <http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/historyonline/us20.cfm>. • "Civil War Hospitals, Surgeons, and Nurses." The American Civil War Home Page. Web. 01 Dec. 2010. <http://civilwarhome.com/hospitalssurgeonsnurses.htm>. • "The Sanitary Commission To The Rescue." The American Civil War Home Page. Web. 01 Dec. 2010. <http://civilwarhome.com/sanitarycommtorescue.htm>. • Photos • "Harewood Hospital in Washington, D.C." Image. Library of Congress. American History. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 1 Dec. 2010. • "Doctors examine Civil War prisoner." Image. Library of Congress. American History. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 1 Dec. 2010. • http://www.civilwarbooklady.com/images/Civil_War_Medicine.jpg • "Amputation at Civil War hospital." Image. National Archives. American History. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 1 Dec. 2010. • "Civil War ambulance." Image. Library of Congress. American History. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 1 Dec. 2010. • http://www.gwu.edu/gelman/spec/exhibits/pnc_riggs/exhibit_images/Clara-Barton.jpg • http://www.franklin.ma.us/auto/upload/schools/fhs/2675-dorothea-dix.jpg • "U.S. Sanitary Commission nurses and officers." Image. Library of Congress. American History. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 1 Dec. 2010. • "U.S. Sanitary Commission quarters." Image. National Archives. American History. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 1 Dec. 2010. • "Battle of Gettysburg casualties." Image. National Archives. American History. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 1 Dec. 2010. • "Battle of the Wilderness." Image. Library of Congress. American History. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 1 Dec. 2010.
