Here's how the Union and the Confederacy tried to deal with medical care...
Confederacy
There is limited information about medical care in the Confederacy because many documents were destroyed in the fire in 1865 in Richmond VA.
The Confederate Army also only started out with 24 doctors, but by the end, there were over 3,000.
Based on available information, 1 in 4 Confederate soldiers died or became incapacitated during the war.
This number is higher than the amount of soldiers who died or were injured in the Union because of multiple factors.
One reason for this is that medications and supplies were not very accessible. Most medications were manufactured in the north. Southerners had to go through the Union blockade to access them, or smuggle medication into the South. Other medical supplies in the South came from captured Union stores.
The Confederate Army also only started out with 24 doctors, but by the end, there were over 3,000.
Based on available information, 1 in 4 Confederate soldiers died or became incapacitated during the war.
This number is higher than the amount of soldiers who died or were injured in the Union because of multiple factors.
One reason for this is that medications and supplies were not very accessible. Most medications were manufactured in the north. Southerners had to go through the Union blockade to access them, or smuggle medication into the South. Other medical supplies in the South came from captured Union stores.
Union
Medical care in the Union was fairly similar to the care in the South, but fewer soldiers died or became incapacitated. 1 in 10 Union soldiers died or were incapacitated due to the war.
The Union also started with 86 doctors and ended with around 12,000.
There were also very influential people involved the Union medical care. Elizabeth Blackwell became the first female doctor and organized the US Sanitary Commission to help organize and assist the Union Army. Clara Barton and Dorothea Dix were superintendent of nurses for the Union Army. They both transformed nursing into a respected profession. (more information on the next page)
The Union also started with 86 doctors and ended with around 12,000.
There were also very influential people involved the Union medical care. Elizabeth Blackwell became the first female doctor and organized the US Sanitary Commission to help organize and assist the Union Army. Clara Barton and Dorothea Dix were superintendent of nurses for the Union Army. They both transformed nursing into a respected profession. (more information on the next page)
Medications
There were very few useful medications during the Civil War. Two thirds of all drugs were botanicals. Some of the medications and treatments for diseases included opium for open bowels, mercury and chalk for closed bowels, green vegetables for scurvy, opium for respiratory problems, quinine for malaria, and whiskey or other forms of alcohol to treat wounds and other diseases.
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Battlefield Medical Care
At the start of the war, battlefield medical care was very unorganized. This changed throughout the war.
At the beginning, stretcher bearers were apart of the regimental band, and many of them fled once the battle started. As the war went on, stretcher bearers joined the medical corps. Ambulances driven by civilians would take the wounded to the nearest hospitals. Later in the war, patients would be transported by trains or sips to large general hospitals. Large general hospitals were established in 1862 and by the end of the war there were 400 hospitals and a total of 2 million admissions.
Military ambulance corps started in 1862 as well. Initially, this was under the Quartermasters corps. Ambulances were directed to deliver supplies and ammunition to the frontlines. Under General McClellan, Jonathan Letterman established his own ambulance corps. The only purpose was to remove the wounded from the battlefield. Letterman was responsible for numerous organizational improvements.
At the beginning, stretcher bearers were apart of the regimental band, and many of them fled once the battle started. As the war went on, stretcher bearers joined the medical corps. Ambulances driven by civilians would take the wounded to the nearest hospitals. Later in the war, patients would be transported by trains or sips to large general hospitals. Large general hospitals were established in 1862 and by the end of the war there were 400 hospitals and a total of 2 million admissions.
Military ambulance corps started in 1862 as well. Initially, this was under the Quartermasters corps. Ambulances were directed to deliver supplies and ammunition to the frontlines. Under General McClellan, Jonathan Letterman established his own ambulance corps. The only purpose was to remove the wounded from the battlefield. Letterman was responsible for numerous organizational improvements.
Link to additional information: ehistory.osu.edu/exhibitions/cwsurgeon/cwsurgeon/introduction