Pros And Cons Of Medical Advancements During The Civil War

As soon as the Civil War started, injuries increased and diseases spread at a rapid pace. Sickness spread to millions. In fact, disease caused 65% of deaths, while war injuries caused up to 100% (“Disease”). Abundant amounts of medical issues caused medical procedures to evolve at a rapid speed. The medical advancements during the Civil War led to future medical technologies and procedures. Different treatments were discovered, doctors and women nurses came forth, technology and transportation evolved, but, there were many disadvantages that came into view during this time. Throughout the war, treatments were one of the strategies that advanced the most. “Disease was the principal killer of Civil War Soldiers”- James M. Mcpherson (Mountjoy).

I first met her at the battle of Cedar Mountain, where she appeared in front of the hospital at 12 o’clock at night, with a four-mule team loaded with everything needed, and at a time when we were entirely out of dressings of every kind, she supplied us with everything; and while the shells were bursting in every direction, took her course to the hospital on pour right, where she found everything wanted again. After doing everything she could on the field, she returned to Culpepper, where she stayed dealing out shirts to the naked wounded, and preparing soup, and seeing it prepared in all the hospitals.” “We had expended every bandage, torn up every sheet in the house, and everything we could find, when who should drive up but our old friend Miss Barton, with a team loaded down with dressings of every kind, and everything we could ask for.” “In my feeble estimation, Gen. McClellan, with all his laurels, sinks into insignificance beside the true heroine of the age, the angel of the battlefield.”(Dunn

Transportation advancements were one of the many problem solvers that changed the medical field for the better. Railroads were one of these advancements. Trains were able to quickly transport wounded men to field hospitals or hospitals, and they were also able to carry supplies from the government to the camps. Without this, there could have been many more casualties or even starvation because libations would not reach them as quick. Ambulances were also very common along with stretchers. Stretchers were made from anything that they could find, including, poles, gates, doors, and ladders. The men would do as much as they could to help the wounded. Another advancement was Dr. Jonathan Letterman’s organization plans. He first established that first-aid stations at the front of regiments and ambulances should be between the stations and field hospitals. Letterman also developed a popular sorting system. The hospital would sort the wounded from least to worst injuries and treat the worst injuries and the easiest injuries first. Today, this strategy, known as a triage, is used in millions of hospitals and makes work easier for doctors