24 civil war medicine and prisons (11)

Medical Medical TreatmentTreatment

Video

WoundedWounded What happened to the wounded?What happened to the wounded?

– Friends cared for them the best they couldFriends cared for them the best they could Serious Wounds?Serious Wounds?

– Ambulances later in the warAmbulances later in the war– Field hospitalsField hospitals

• Initial surgeriesInitial surgeries

– Convalescent HospitalsConvalescent Hospitals• RecuperateRecuperate• Home or back to UnitHome or back to Unit

Death rates were very high – disease the Death rates were very high – disease the primary killerprimary killer

AmbulancesAmbulances

CSA Field CSA Field HospitalHospital

HospitalsHospitals Soldiers avoided Field Soldiers avoided Field

HospitalsHospitals–High Death RatesHigh Death Rates–Southern Death Rates Southern Death Rates were Worsewere Worse•Fewer Medical SuppliesFewer Medical Supplies

Army Square Army Square HospitalHospital

Harewood Harewood HospitalHospital

Douglas Douglas HospitalHospital

ChimborazoChimborazo

SurgeonsSurgeons

MedicinesMedicines Most CommonMost Common

–AlcoholAlcohol•AbuseAbuse

Blue MassBlue Mass–Mercury and ChalkMercury and Chalk

QuinineQuinine

DiseaseDisease Dysentery (Chronic Diarrhea) Dysentery (Chronic Diarrhea)

killed more soldiers than battlekilled more soldiers than battle ExampleExample

–3 month case of diarrhea3 month case of diarrhea–Went to hospital - lead acetate, Went to hospital - lead acetate, opium, sulfuric acid, etc.opium, sulfuric acid, etc.

DiseaseDisease Soldier died within 2 Soldier died within 2 weeks of treatmentweeks of treatment

12th Connecticut 12th Connecticut RegimentRegiment–1,000 troops1,000 troops–Only 600 by first battleOnly 600 by first battle

AmputationsAmputations Accounted for 75% of all Accounted for 75% of all operationsoperations–Little Sanitation - used Little Sanitation - used same saw and knifesame saw and knife

48Hour Rule48Hour Rule–Twice as successfulTwice as successful

AmputeesAmputees

Anesthesia Anesthesia

AmputatioAmputationn

PrisonsPrisons

Prisoner Prisoner ExchangeExchange

Prisoners were exchanged Prisoners were exchanged early in the warearly in the war– Point systemPoint system

Later, Grant stopped the Later, Grant stopped the systemsystem– He could replace men, South He could replace men, South

couldn’tcouldn’t– Consequences. . . . Consequences. . . .

SouthernSouthern AndersonvilleAndersonville

–By far the Worst of the warBy far the Worst of the war–However, CSA didn’t have However, CSA didn’t have enough food for citizens enough food for citizens •Prisoners were not a priorityPrisoners were not a priority•Conditions could have been Conditions could have been better, however.better, however.

AndersonvilleAndersonville

AndersonvilleAndersonville Central GeorgiaCentral Georgia Commander - WirzCommander - Wirz 26 acres enclosed by 15 26 acres enclosed by 15

foot fencefoot fence–Intended to house 10,000Intended to house 10,000–Housed 32,000 by 8-1864Housed 32,000 by 8-1864

AndersonvilleAndersonville Only one small stream for Only one small stream for

waterwater– Drinking, bathing, latrineDrinking, bathing, latrine– Drought caused diseaseDrought caused disease

DeathsDeaths– 45,000 total confined45,000 total confined– 13,000 died13,000 died

No No Man’s Man’s LandLand

AndersonvilAndersonvillele

SurvivorSurvivor

Wirz ExecutionWirz Execution

ElmiraElmiraNew YorkNew YorkWorst Union CampWorst Union Camp

–UnnecessaryUnnecessary–25% death rate25% death rate–Twice the second-worst Twice the second-worst Union campUnion camp

(H)Elmira(H)Elmira

ElmiraElmira Commander - Payback for Commander - Payback for

AndersonvilleAndersonville RationsRations

– Cut to Bread and WaterCut to Bread and Water– Scurvy and MalnutritionScurvy and Malnutrition

Southerners sent uniforms and Southerners sent uniforms and blanketsblankets– Union commander burned blankets and Union commander burned blankets and

clothes sent unless grayclothes sent unless gray