Civil War Medical Facts

The basis of modern medicine was founded during the Civil War because new ideas were needed in order to treat thousands of wounded and dying soldiers.

More than 620,000 people were dead at the end of the Civil War. If new medical procedures and medicines hadn't been invented during the War, the death rate would have been double.

Medical professionals had no concept of sanitary conditions, antiseptics or germs when the Civil War began. By the time it ended, they were more educated on the impact that these things had on the death rate.

When the Civil War was declared, there were only approximately 40 medical schools in the US and a huge shortage of qualified doctors.

Instead of attending medical school, those men who wished to become doctors could do so by serving an apprenticeship with an experienced doctor.

During the Civil War, new recruits were accepted even though they suffered from physical defects and chronic disease.

Dysentery and diarrhea were rampant during the Civil War and killed hundreds of soldiers. Camps couldn't provide adequate and safe drinking water and food was often scarce.

Of those who died during the Civil War, two-thirds died of disease.

Over 100,000 horses died of illness and exhaustion during the War.

Whiskey was used to keep wounded soldiers from going into shock.