1. Lack of Proper Training: Many surgeons on both sides lacked formal medical education or had limited training. Some were even self-taught or had minimal experience in surgery. This resulted in high mortality rates due to improper treatments, infections, and unsanitary conditions.
2. Amputation: Given the limited options, amputation was often the preferred course of treatment for severe limb injuries. Amputations were common, especially for arms, legs, feet, and hands, as they were seen as a quick way to save a soldier's life by preventing infection or gangrene from spreading.
3. Infection and Disease: Unsurprisingly, infection and disease were major killers during the Civil War. Inadequate hygiene, sanitation, and medical knowledge led to the spread of cholera, smallpox, typhoid fever, dysentery, and gangrene, which caused a high number of casualties.
4. Battlefield Surgery: Battlefield surgery was often crude and performed in unsanitary conditions. Doctors operated in tents or makeshift surgical areas near the front lines, often under fire, and with limited resources. Chloroform and ether were used as anesthetics, but not consistently.
5. Medical Personnel: The medical corps of both armies struggled to keep up with the immense demand for care, leading to severe shortages of surgeons and nurses. Many soldiers died from easily treatable conditions due to the lack of proper medical attention.
6. Field Hospitals: Field hospitals were established to treat wounded soldiers, but they were often overcrowded and lacked adequate supplies. Hospitals faced challenges, such as insufficient lighting, poor ventilation, and limited surgical instruments.
7. Amputation Rates: Amputation rates during the Civil War were incredibly high, with an estimated 30,000 limbs lost on both sides. This was largely attributed to the emphasis on amputation as the primary treatment for severe injuries, rather than attempts at limb preservation.
8. Progress and Innovations: Despite these challenges, the Civil War also witnessed several medical advancements, such as the use of antiseptic surgery, improved surgical techniques, and the development of field medical services. Surgeon General William Alexander Hammond of the Union Army introduced reforms that improved medical organization and standards of care.
9. Anesthesia and Pain Management: Chloroform and ether were used for anesthesia, but they were not always available, and administering them was challenging in chaotic battlefield conditions. Soldiers often endured excruciating pain during surgeries.
10. Post-War Reforms: The Civil War highlighted the need for a better medical infrastructure and prompted significant changes in medical education, hospital management, and overall healthcare practices in the United States.
In summary, medical treatment during the Civil War was characterized by limited medical knowledge, high amputation rates, challenges posed by infection and disease, and a shortage of trained medical personnel. Despite these shortcomings, the conflict also spurred medical innovations and reforms that would shape healthcare practices in the future.