- Hospitals were often overcrowded, with inadequate ventilation
- Lack of medical supplies and trained staff
- Hospitals were not equipped to treat the severity of injuries sustained in battle
- Amputations were often performed without anesthesia
Infections
- Hospitals were not equipped with proper sanitation measures
- Bacteria spread quickly, leading to infections and death
- Tetanus, dysentery, and gangrene were common
- Hospital gangrene was a flesh-eating disease that often led to amputation
Inadequate Medical Care
- Poor medical training and lack of resources often resulted in ineffective and harmful treatments
- Bloodletting, mercury, calomel, and opium were common treatments
- Lack of understanding of the causes of diseases and effective treatments
High Mortality Rate
- Overcrowding, poor hygiene, and infections led to death rates as high as 40%
- Inadequate facilities and medical care reduced the chances of survival
Psychological Impact
- The sights, sounds, and smells of hospitals could be overwhelming
- Soldiers suffered from PTSD due to the horrors of war and death
- Lack of emotional support and mental health care added to soldiers' trauma
Lack of Resources
- Hospitals struggled with staffing shortages, insufficient supplies, and lack of funding