A modern paramedic would likely be more effective than a civil war era doctor IMO. Paramedics aren't trained to perform battlefield surgery but accidentally killing a few patients while they learn on the fly would be offset (many times over) by the number of lives they'd save simply by knowing to wash their hands between patients.
A modern paramedic would be an excellent doctor in a time where you still didn't have to have any formalized training to be a doctor depending on where you lived
When I lived in Northern Virginia, my new apartment building was right next to an old house that seemed so random and out of place given the rest of the neighborhood. Eventually I took a walk to go see what the house was. It was a Civil War field hospital marked by the historical registry.
I’ve done work on an old farmhouse located in Perryville Kentucky that still had bloodstains in the hardwood floor from being used as a makeshift hospital during the Battle of Perryville .
When I was a kid my family visited Gettysburg and I got a book from the gift shop full of photographs of injured and mortally wounded soldiers. I recall reading that when a cannonball severed a limb, medics in the field would dip the remaining stump in hot tar to stop the bleeding. If their injuries didn't kill them, infections from archaic medical care would! I know that it's a little strange to have a favorite war, but the Civil War is mine.
The hot tar would work if the Dr was able to tie off the artery before they bled out. It wasn’t used much and mostly earlier in the war. By mid war Doctors learned very quick technics to amputate. Infection killed more than the wounds itself. Another interesting fact is that the closer the amputation to the torso the higher mortality rate. Definitely a horrible time to be a soldier!!!!!
Grass fires were very common. Glowing red highly combustive gunpowder was often projected from rifle barrels and caught the grass alight. Wounded soldiers, unable to move, would be burnt to death, the memory of their horrific screams of agony haunting the night hours of soldiers who survived the war til the end of their lives
The maggot thing is still done today. Diabetics with open wounds have maggot larvae sealed into the area and left to dispose of necrotic tissue that forms. Seen it done, yes, it's gross, but it really works!
Those little buggers eat the dead flesh they can reach. But, they have to be able to reach it. That is why they currently will try debridement in order to trim back and rid the patient of the dead and putrifying flesh.
9:39 The concept of Grant being drunk in battle is a common myth. After the Mexican War, a drinking episode cost him his Army career. For that reason, he forced himself to stay away from alcohol during the Civil War whenever he was in active command.
As a Navy corpsman I remember my greatest concerns were control of blood loss, followed by time. 'Constantly praying for less and more, respectfully. Triage, my first time I was 19y/o, was when a Pilot used a regular cold tablet for his cold, and ended up ditching his jet into the deck of an aircraft carrier. Countless waves of sailors were flown to the hospital I was stationed. I was told to administer a lethal dose of morphine, via IV. If the MOOD (medical officer on deck) directed me to by pointing and saying, "he's a 3." 1's went to immediate surgery, and 2's "can wait." All the best.
Man, this is something. Interesting topic. Doctors were notorious in that era when they didn't clean their instruments after surgery or wash their hands.
My great great great grandfather was apparently a sawbones for the Illinois 6th Volunteer Cavalry during the civil war. I shudder to think the horrors he was beholden to.
I would have thought that Clara Barton would receive a mention at least. While she pioneered battlefield nursing, her efforts resulted in many wounded men making it to the field hospitals alive.
So sad. Can’t imagine the pain everyone endured. Even in modern days after surgery pain can be hard to handle. I would think there was a big turn over rate at these hospitals!
I just had to comment as a Star Trek fan and say that Dr. McCoy's nickname is indeed named for the battlefield surgeons during the American Civil War! 😁Of course, when I heard the term, "Sawbones" and seen't the picture of De Kelley (Dr. McCoy) I let out a little yelp of happiness! Lol! Thank you for all the interesting topics that are a part of our (wait for it...) "Weird History"! Be safe and healthy, everyone! Live Long & Prosper! 🖖😎
@@tranzphaziktorpedo"My god, man! Drilling holes in his head's not the answer! The artery must be repaired! Now put away your butcher knives and let me save this patient before it's too late!" " We're dealing with medievalism here. " Leonard Horatio McCoy, Star Trek IV:The Voyage Home.
@@mikegallant811 Ayo! I just got access to my account back and I see this response awaiting me! The full quote from the hospital scene! WooHoo! "Chemotherapy... funduscopic examinations..." *arterial regenerator chimes away happily* "C'mon, Chekov wake up!" "Pavel... can you hear me?" "He's coming around, Jim!" *Middle, middle, middle* "How's the patient, doc?" "He's gonna make it!" "He?! You came in with a SHE!" "...one little mistake" 🎶Chekov's Run plays🎶 Awesome, yo! I have a knack for quoting/memorizing Star Trek films and certain episodes that stick into my brain! Lmao! 😁Be safe and healthy! LLAP1
Fun fact! We still use maggots and leeches in modern healthcare :) we just had leeches at my hospital for a patient. I made sure to give them proper vampire names before they left the pharmacy.
My dog was injured once and the wound was covered in maggots. The vet told me that was more effective than anything he could do (simply prescribed antibiotics). He was right.
@@Dustinwhy8 there are groups in India that help mentally ill homeles people with medical treatment and the amount of people that show up with maggot infesed wounds is disturbing. But what is very interesting is most these people would have died from the wounds and infection if they haven't got infected with maggots. The maggots pretty much saved their lives, help to prevent septic infections.
@@ukeyaoitrash2618 I’m new to anime if that’s an anime reference 😭 I’m almost 30 so I went more traditional with Twilight, Vampire Diaries, Buffy, and The Vampire Chronicles universe
@@donalddees5503 yeah. There are many ghost tours and such all over. I love it. So does my daughter. The college main building was once a hospital during the war. The college was already open and running at that point but they stopped during the war and used it to treat the wounded. Pretty cool.
Chloroform and ether had not only been invented by the time the civil war broke out, they were used in almost all hospital surgeries by then as well. It was only surgeries done directly following a battle that you may have to go without since it just might not be on hand.
I remember on one of the documentaries about the ghosts of Gettysburg that they stated piles of limbs were buried all over the campus of the local college and that the security staff forbade anyone from trying to find them.
Brains have a specific smell. After 30 yrs as a Trauma RN, you get enough brain matter on you, you can recall the smell by memory. Your only solace ... you were the last thing on their mind
6:50 Actually, the south would use something they had in abundance: cotton. They would take wads of cotton and use it to dress wounds then discard the spent section, which actually aided in _improving_ mortality rates by reducing the chance of infection spread. Similarly, the southern surgeons substituted twine (often used for sewing amputation wounds) with horse hairs boiled in water. This, again, resulted in a reduction in infection rate and improved the chances of survival. In fact, mortality rates in southern hospitals was lower than that of northern hospitals. The hospital with the lowest morality rate was Chimborazo hospital in Richmond, Virginia (the capital of the Confederacy), which had a mortality rate of 8.3-10.3%.
People believe that anesthesia wasn't used because a lot of times it wasn't. Especially in southern field hospitals, there wasn't a supply of chloroform. There were many documented cases were soldiers passed out from the pain, or were so exhausted that they slept through the surgery. Norther field hospitals were better supplied mostly, but there were times that the demand overwhelmed the supply and soldiers faced the same issues as their southern counterparts
During my genealogy research years ago I discovered one of my ancestors in the 101st Pennsylvania Infantry had barely survived fighting at Gettysburg. His health was never quite the same after that battle and his wife had to help him get around. I honor all of our ancestors who served on both sides of the line in the sand during the War Between The States.
I recently found put 2 great x4 grandparents fought for the south I'm Georgia. One died during the battle of Atlanta. Not sure if he died in battle or died from his wounds from battle.
I am Pagan, just wondering when the ' Pagan times' were. I know what you are going for, but, we are still here. There are many books, BTW, if you are genuinely interested.
If anyone is ever interested in learning more about the men who were treated unsuccessfully, Oakwood Cemetery’s Confederate Section is where 16,000 of them were buried. Many of the men buried there have names attached to them and some of the records (including medical and muster roll records) still survive to this day. If you do go there, it might help give you an idea of the sheer scale of the war around Richmond and central Virginia.
During the Battle of Hanover, the Union set up a field hospital at my 4th great -grandfathers saddle shop. My 3rd great -grandmother was about 13 at the time. She would tell stories of screaming soldiers having legs and arms amputated and dipped in tar to stop the bleeding. The only anesthesia the soldiers had was to get drunk as possible before surgery. She attended the Gettysburg Address and actually got to meet and shake hands with Abraham Lincoln. Every house she lived in always had a photo of Abraham Lincoln in the window.
She was interviewed in the 1930’s by a local newspaper. In her own words… “The night before the battle we were warned to leave town because they were afraid it would be burned down by the rebels. My mother put a lot of things in a sheet and started out across the fields with us children. We were taken in by a farmer named Daniel Bear. We stayed there overnight, but mother took us home the next day. The morning of the battle I went to the square with a wash basket of bread and a kettle of apple butter and helped feed the soldiers that were coming into Hanover.” She continued, “The soldiers were awful tired and hungry and were glad to get the food people were giving them. The square was full of townspeople with baskets of food. Then word came that General Stuart and his Calvary were coming. General Kilpatrick told us there was going to be fighting and we should all get off the street. I started to run home, but before I could get across the street some of the rebel cavalry came along. The officer halted his men for a moment so we could get by. I ran kept running until I got home. Just as I started through the door of my house a bullet hit a rain spout, glanced off, and grazed my dress. I surely was glad to get in the house. All that day my mother baked bread and fed the soldiers. She must have used at least a barrel of flour. She had to give the food at the back door because the rebels were across the street. That night we slept in potato bins in the cellar. It was cold down there. The day after the fight in Hanover the battle started in Gettysburg. That’s about 16 miles west of Hanover. The soldiers kept coming back and bringing the wounded with them. We had some of them in my father’s saddle shop. That’s it right there in the picture, with the sign on it. About 15 of the soldiers who were just resting slept in the front room of our house. They were all pretty young. Some of the girls who carried victuals to the soldiers fell in love with them. I can’t blame them much; the boys did look mighty nice in their uniforms. My, but those were exciting times!”
I remember seeing the movie “How The West Was Won “and they portrayed a civil war field hospital. When they amputated a man’s leg they would just throw a bucket of water on the blood stained table and brought the next soldier to be treated.
It is so surprising how resented doctors after the Civil War were to learning about germs. It took them awhile to realize washing hand helped avoid infection.
The surgeons did what they could with their limited knowledge. Just 10 years after the war germ theory was discovered and looking back many of them were horrified at how they operated. However 70% of amputees survived. It was the very first war with general anesthesia administered which allowed surgeons to tie off blood vessels and smooth off the bone that allowed the stump to be fitted with prosthetics. Still, it was common (at least early on) for wounded soldiers to lie on the battlefield for days without food, water, or any painkillers before finally getting care.
My great great grandfather had his leg amputated after laying all night on the battlefield. Maggots got into the wound and doctors told him that saved his life. He went on to have 14 children.
A civil war reenactor who played a surgeon told me once that they used lead powder or mercury powder on open wounds to clog the arteries from bleeding people out.
I read Ulysses S Grant’s autobiography. It taught me a lot about the Civil War that I would have never guessed. At night, a confederate river boat would float downstream near a Union camp, a Union guard would fire a shot over its bow, the confederate boat would drop anchor, and the Union officers would paddle up to the confederate boat and board it. They’d play cards and drink whiskey and hang out. These were typically officers who had gone to West Point together. Confederate soldiers would trade tobacco with union soldiers in exchange for a biscuit or something to eat. The field generals communicated through telegraph signals and there were crews constantly installing these lines mounted on small phone poles (5’ high or so). There were also people constantly tearing them down. These lines would tie together into a large communication network that would end up going all the way to Lincoln himself. The rate at which these soldiers could build bridges to cross rivers was insane. They built over 100 in one month. As the confederates retreated, they would destroy railroad tracks. The Union would rebuild them just as fast. (think supply lines) The confederate soldiers began putting the tracks onto large fires to melt or heat the steel tracks to cause warpage in an effort to make them unusable. The Union soldiers were so good at straightening the track back out to re-install them that the Confederate soldiers began heating up the tracks in the middle and wrapping them around large trees to cool (like a knot) so the Union soldiers couldn’t use them. (but they did) Basically, when the sun set, the soldiers stopped fighting. The same is true during the cold rainy months of winter. One evening as Grant rode up to his camp, nearby confederate soldiers saluted him as a sign of respect. The Union soldiers had better provisions but the confederate soldiers had better rifles and typically were accurate with their weapon, having hunted their entire lives which was also true of many Union soldiers. According to Grant, most or many confederate soldiers went to war because their plantation master instructed them to fight. Most were poor sharecroppers with no education and no means of support other than working on the plantation. Most southerners did not owns slaves bc they’d couldn’t afford a slave. These plantation owners would be happy to send their own sons to war but wanted their slaves to stay and work the farm. There was a confederate regiment out of Louisiana made up of free black men who were themselves slave owners. The Union had companies made up of all black men. Not in his book… The confederate occupation in the war was funded almost entirely by plantation owners. There was no confederate tax revenue to speak of bc it was a new “country”. At the end of the civil war, most of these plantation owners were bankrupt. It took almost 100 years for the south to recover economically. Many parts of the south didn’t have electricity during the depression (1930s) and electricity is the instrument/resource that provides opportunity for impoverished areas. The civil war was a terrible event for a young nation but ending slavery was worth the tradgedy. Unfortunately, many nations continued with slavery well into the 20th century. Some countries still practice slavery today. Most are in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. When the US was founded in 1776, almost every country in the world had slavery. England was the first to end slavery and they forced France to end it. They even fought hard to stop the slave trade at its epicenter, Africa, but the African kings refused to give up their revenue streams. Learn more about white slavery from, “White Slavery of the Barbary Coast”. Read about the Barbary Wars to learn about the US government paying Muslims slave traders to free Americans who had been enslaved. We went to war and signed a treaty with the African Muslim ruler and after signing the treat AND paying them money, they broke the treaty by enslaving more American ship crews. In the early part of the US history, paying these African kings money to not enslave Americans was 10% of our federal spendings. Finally Thomas Jefferson kicked their ass and they stopped. Thomas Jefferson’s slave with whom he impregnated a few times was also his sister in law. His wife had already died. What was the video about? I’ve forgotten.
Showing a photo of McClellan while narrating about tough decisions was rather amusing. The minie ball (which resemble the cannons in Mario 3) were vicious in blowing out flesh and shattering bones. The remains of amputated arms and legs are shattered and split down the bone. Some even carry the minie ball still wedged in the bone. It's a sobering sight to see.
One of the biggest killers of soldiers on both sides of the war was dental infections of all kinds. A dental infection combined with the fact that no antibiotics existed led to infections that went directly to the brain.
Not surprised about the turpentine. It was used as a remedy for a few things, especially against parasites... however, if taken incorrectly without consideration for dosage, it can do extensive damage to the lungs among other problems.
This is so sad, I'm definitely strongly aligned with one side, but I feel bad for all of them for fighting in theses conditions and THEN the condition of the medical care.
So many brave people suffered grievous injuries and/or death in order to free folks from slavery. Too bad the sacrifice of those soldiers is forgotten by most people.
I'm aware that the Ulysses S Grant thing was a throwaway bit, but the idea that he was constantly drunk was a myth - often propagated by Pro-Southern historians (Lost Cause types) and people otherwise bitter at Grant and his subordinates like Sherman and Sheridan (even Union/Northerners when the war wasn't going well). He definitely had some really low points - mostly when he was posted away from his family and missed them badly - where he drank more than he should have. But especially during the Civil War where he had purpose and his focus was attuned, he didn't wander around drunk ordering men to die in droves. He was committed to ending the war and humbling the South into submission. Drunkeness and bloodlust didn't have much to do with how he led.
I don't blame him for drinking as much as he did, with the amount of stress he had to deal with. A lot of the Generals during the war were sociopaths, but he felt his soldier's death he sent into combat. His memoirs that I have read are kind of sad, especially talking about his presidency.
Im so sick of everything being blamed on "lost cause types". Ever consider than when somebody finds a different number or opinion that MAYBE it's not a friggin lost causer? Seriously. "Ulyses S Grant was a drunkard? Totally no way anyone would ever think that ever and the only people at all who would even suggest the idea are lost causers!" That goes into everything too. "Jim heard from his grandmother that her grandfather didn't support slavery? MUST BE A LOST CAUSER!" "Someone doesn't support the absolute brutality the union did on the south both during and after the war? CLEARLY A SIGN THAT THEY THINK THE WAR HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH SLAVERY!!!!" "Somebody is proud to be from the south or has a rebel flag for any reason at all? CLOSET NAZIS AND RACISTS!!!!" "somebody thinks the south had catchy tunes? OH AND I GUESS LEE WAS A BETTER THAN ALEXANDER THE GREAT TOO, HUH LOST CAUSER!?!?" friggin annoying garbage that these autun shey types always say. No. The average dude who thinks Grant was a drunkard is NOT a lost causer. It's just a guy who didn't dig into a thousand records about his drinking habits. I know, the horror. Surely thats just lost cause propaganda.
I was upset by his reference to Grant. You did a better job of responding than I would have. The North was very lucky to have Grant. He was a soldier thru and thru, with no political agenda. He was loyal to his Comander and Chief, and hated war. His strategy was to bring it a an end as fast as possible. Unfortunately, his reputation was destroyed by the excesses in his administration as president. There's no evidence that he was dishonest, but he was tarred with those who were. Again, thanks for your comment.
And disease brought on by wounds. The common one I’ve read from those buried at Oakwood Cemetery’s Confederate Section (a cemetery that mainly buried the dead from Chimborazo and the 20+ other hospitals in Richmond, Virginia) was disease instigated by their injuries. A common one is getting shot in the leg and dying roughly one Month after sustaining the wound.
It is a myth that U.S. Grant was a drinker. In fact, the man rarely drank, because he was a lightweight. That myth was started by his rivals as a character assassination. Simply watch any modern documentary on TV about him and it'll be debunked.
I noticed something you forgot to include: the image of an active field hospital. More specifically, you forgot to include the photograph of the field hospital at Savage’s Station, which, when the photograph was taken, was a day before the facility (and the station) would be assaulted by confederate forces during the Seven Days Battles in the Battle of Savage’s Station.
My grandfather was put under with Chloroform for kidney stone surgery. Back when they had to cut you open for stones. Thank god I was born after significant medical advances, or I’d probably be dead by now; especially with as many stones as I’ve had.
Actually the rumors of Grant being constantly drunk have been debunked. He did not drink anywhere near the amount that has been attributed to him. Yes, he did enjoy his booze but he only drank it when it was an appropriate time.
Maggots do work wonders. When you're expecting them. I'd taken care I'd a homeless person in LA who lived in the woods. He came in to be seen because while he attempted to sleep, a bird would keep pecking at a large boil on his forehead. When we asked him to change out of his rather odiferous clothing caked in a sundry bodily fluids and the such. When he bent over to take off his pants, it be came clear as to why the bird was adamant in its pecking. As maggots began pouring put of his forehead, falling to the floor, wriggling and writhing by the dozens. One thing I'm grateful for, is that i was able to call environmental services to tidy up
I wonder if 161 years from now medical professionals will think us as barbaric. However, from what I understand of contemporary med school grads we may be moving back to skill levels of the 1860s.
Not even 100 years ago it was a perfectly acceptable and industry-approved standard to cut out an entire section of a person's brain to treat mental illness. For every major advancement in medicine there are a few blunders.
The opening scene from Free State of Jones was a good reference to the carnage of the American Civil War. That would be a cool video to do, about the real Free State of Jones?
Not enough is said in these about the Satterlee General Hospital which was the largest Union hospital. It was located in W. Philadelphia...just west of where the Univ. of PA is today.
After the fifth or sixth person came in and the nurse said “what’s the best course of treatment,” and the doc responded, “amputate,” no one still questioned it?
The limbs very piled out beside the hospital but it was not like a hospital in today's measure. 8t was just a building where the surgeons treated wounds.
The reason many think anesthesia wasn't used was because they'd run so low, or out of it completely by the middle, or end of the war. Often it was saved for officers. Originally it was used, by the end of the war you were usually screwed.
That little shot at Grant for being a drunk made me laugh. It’s highly exaggerated of course; Grant only really drank during periods where nothing was happening. Still funny though
I own a pair of Confederate battlefield dropped field glasses from Gettysburg. You can see where a three ring minie or other type of bullet hit one side of them. My purchase didn't include the leather case for them and the strap was gone.
It's scary the amount of training I received as a paramedic would possibly make me a doctor in this Era of medicine
Probably better
A modern paramedic would likely be more effective than a civil war era doctor IMO. Paramedics aren't trained to perform battlefield surgery but accidentally killing a few patients while they learn on the fly would be offset (many times over) by the number of lives they'd save simply by knowing to wash their hands between patients.
@@g0dofimmortality that is the most medic answer ever I love it
Almost guaranteed!
A modern paramedic would be an excellent doctor in a time where you still didn't have to have any formalized training to be a doctor depending on where you lived
When I lived in Northern Virginia, my new apartment building was right next to an old house that seemed so random and out of place given the rest of the neighborhood. Eventually I took a walk to go see what the house was. It was a Civil War field hospital marked by the historical registry.
I’ve done work on an old farmhouse located in Perryville Kentucky that still had bloodstains in the hardwood floor from being used as a makeshift hospital during the Battle of Perryville .
Oh my. I can imagine all the DNA on the hardwood floor
@@judeinLA. Indeed! May be impossible but wouldn't it be cool if you could get samples and compare the DNA against databases to find living ancestors?
When I was a kid my family visited Gettysburg and I got a book from the gift shop full of photographs of injured and mortally wounded soldiers. I recall reading that when a cannonball severed a limb, medics in the field would dip the remaining stump in hot tar to stop the bleeding. If their injuries didn't kill them, infections from archaic medical care would! I know that it's a little strange to have a favorite war, but the Civil War is mine.
The hot tar would work if the Dr was able to tie off the artery before they bled out. It wasn’t used much and mostly earlier in the war. By mid war Doctors learned very quick technics to amputate. Infection killed more than the wounds itself. Another interesting fact is that the closer the amputation to the torso the higher mortality rate. Definitely a horrible time to be a soldier!!!!!
My favorite war is WW2
Political correctness and woke politics have fucked us. I remember the days when it was normal to enjoy history and to have a "favorite" war to study.
It is mine too.
Grass fires were very common. Glowing red highly combustive gunpowder was often projected from rifle barrels and caught the grass alight. Wounded soldiers, unable to move, would be burnt to death, the memory of their horrific screams of agony haunting the night hours of soldiers who survived the war til the end of their lives
True horror, the pain ..the wait for your turn..
These videos are getting more and more specific. I just know I’m going to see what it was like to be a used car salesman in Berlin during World War II
😂
Mattress salesmen in the midwest, at an intersection with 4 other mattress stories around you.
1943 or 44 ?? we want details...........
Anyone who believes they could survive working in a Civil War hospital scares me, and I want them on my side in the apocalypse.
The maggot thing is still done today. Diabetics with open wounds have maggot larvae sealed into the area and left to dispose of necrotic tissue that forms. Seen it done, yes, it's gross, but it really works!
They tried that on my aunt, but she still lost her leg anyways
@@supergg07 I'm so sorry. It's far from a perfect solution, obviously. Best wishes.❤️
Those little buggers eat the dead flesh they can reach. But, they have to be able to reach it. That is why they currently will try debridement in order to trim back and rid the patient of the dead and putrifying flesh.
Leeches, maggots and worse are still used in 2024.
9:39 The concept of Grant being drunk in battle is a common myth. After the Mexican War, a drinking episode cost him his Army career. For that reason, he forced himself to stay away from alcohol during the Civil War whenever he was in active command.
Yes! Very true!!! I just posted something akin to yours. I had not read down yet at that point.
Yet the rumors persisted
The rumors were very devastating. Either true or not. But he was a good coomander
As a Navy corpsman I remember my greatest concerns were control of blood loss, followed by time. 'Constantly praying for less and more, respectfully. Triage, my first time I was 19y/o, was when a Pilot used a regular cold tablet for his cold, and ended up ditching his jet into the deck of an aircraft carrier. Countless waves of sailors were flown to the hospital I was stationed. I was told to administer a lethal dose of morphine, via IV. If the MOOD (medical officer on deck) directed me to by pointing and saying, "he's a 3." 1's went to immediate surgery, and 2's "can wait." All the best.
Man, this is something. Interesting topic. Doctors were notorious in that era when they didn't clean their instruments after surgery or wash their hands.
The germ theory of disease was not well known or accepted by these "butcher" doctors. 😢
Makes me feel glad of our medical advances today which some even take for granted.
My great great great grandfather was apparently a sawbones for the Illinois 6th Volunteer Cavalry during the civil war. I shudder to think the horrors he was beholden to.
I would have thought that Clara Barton would receive a mention at least. While she pioneered battlefield nursing, her efforts resulted in many wounded men making it to the field hospitals alive.
She’s a woman? Nope
I remember going to the local library and checking out a book about Clara Barton. I did a book report on her! 😊
@@ProdYaMom, Cry us a river.
@@samuelschick8813 wow… rude.
@@kristen9745, What have I said or done that makes you think I give a fuck about your feelings?"
So sad. Can’t imagine the pain everyone endured. Even in modern days after surgery pain can be hard to handle. I would think there was a big turn over rate at these hospitals!
There is no preventing amputation, even nowadays. If it's gangrene, it has to go. Are you hearing this guys who want a Civil War?
I just had to comment as a Star Trek fan and say that Dr. McCoy's nickname is indeed named for the battlefield surgeons during the American Civil War! 😁Of course, when I heard the term, "Sawbones" and seen't the picture of De Kelley (Dr. McCoy) I let out a little yelp of happiness! Lol! Thank you for all the interesting topics that are a part of our (wait for it...) "Weird History"! Be safe and healthy, everyone! Live Long & Prosper! 🖖😎
Live Long and Prosper 🤗
@@tristinkirby Peace & Long Life and for my favorite Sawbones himself, Leonard McCoy I'd like to say, "I'm a Doctor, not a bricklayer!" Lol! 🖖😎
@@tranzphaziktorpedo"My god, man! Drilling holes in his head's not the answer! The artery must be repaired! Now put away your butcher knives and let me save this patient before it's too late!"
" We're dealing with medievalism here. "
Leonard Horatio McCoy, Star Trek IV:The Voyage Home.
@@mikegallant811 Ayo! I just got access to my account back and I see this response awaiting me! The full quote from the hospital scene! WooHoo!
"Chemotherapy... funduscopic examinations..." *arterial regenerator chimes away happily* "C'mon, Chekov wake up!"
"Pavel... can you hear me?"
"He's coming around, Jim!"
*Middle, middle, middle*
"How's the patient, doc?"
"He's gonna make it!"
"He?! You came in with a SHE!"
"...one little mistake"
🎶Chekov's Run plays🎶
Awesome, yo! I have a knack for quoting/memorizing Star Trek films and certain episodes that stick into my brain! Lmao! 😁Be safe and healthy! LLAP1
Fun fact! We still use maggots and leeches in modern healthcare :) we just had leeches at my hospital for a patient. I made sure to give them proper vampire names before they left the pharmacy.
My dog was injured once and the wound was covered in maggots. The vet told me that was more effective than anything he could do (simply prescribed antibiotics). He was right.
Did you call them Yuu and Mika? XD
@@Dustinwhy8 there are groups in India that help mentally ill homeles people with medical treatment and the amount of people that show up with maggot infesed wounds is disturbing. But what is very interesting is most these people would have died from the wounds and infection if they haven't got infected with maggots. The maggots pretty much saved their lives, help to prevent septic infections.
Lol that's cute. I knew leeches were still used but no maggots.
@@ukeyaoitrash2618 I’m new to anime if that’s an anime reference 😭 I’m almost 30 so I went more traditional with Twilight, Vampire Diaries, Buffy, and The Vampire Chronicles universe
My daughter is at college in Gettysburg. So much history!! It’s fascinating and I love this topic
Not to mention Haunted.. there's a lot of residual suffering in that area.
@@rionthemagnificent2971 Gettysburg is one of the most populated cities in Pennsylvania. If you count all the ghosts.
@@donalddees5503 yeah. There are many ghost tours and such all over. I love it. So does my daughter. The college main building was once a hospital during the war. The college was already open and running at that point but they stopped during the war and used it to treat the wounded. Pretty cool.
This video brings to mind the field hospital scenes in the film Gone With The Wind.
That “sounds like the DMV” joke had me laughing unreasonably hard
Ditto 😂
Chloroform and ether had not only been invented by the time the civil war broke out, they were used in almost all hospital surgeries by then as well. It was only surgeries done directly following a battle that you may have to go without since it just might not be on hand.
I remember on one of the documentaries about the ghosts of Gettysburg that they stated piles of limbs were buried all over the campus of the local college and that the security staff forbade anyone from trying to find them.
"Dammit Jim, I'm a Doctor, not a Sawbo... oh, wait..."
* Mr. Spock raises a brow *
It seems like treatment varied from the practical to the truly bizarre.
Bloody hard! Remember they didn’t have the equipment or drugs we have today!
4:47 The maggot treatment has actually come back into use over the last decade.
Brains have a specific smell.
After 30 yrs as a Trauma RN, you get enough brain matter on you, you can recall the smell by memory. Your only solace ... you were the last thing on their mind
I wasn’t aware that brains smell differently.
Ha
6:50
Actually, the south would use something they had in abundance: cotton.
They would take wads of cotton and use it to dress wounds then discard the spent section, which actually aided in _improving_ mortality rates by reducing the chance of infection spread. Similarly, the southern surgeons substituted twine (often used for sewing amputation wounds) with horse hairs boiled in water. This, again, resulted in a reduction in infection rate and improved the chances of survival.
In fact, mortality rates in southern hospitals was lower than that of northern hospitals. The hospital with the lowest morality rate was Chimborazo hospital in Richmond, Virginia (the capital of the Confederacy), which had a mortality rate of 8.3-10.3%.
I'm working on a thesis about a related subject, so this came out of nowhere, but at the right time for me, lmao.
People believe that anesthesia wasn't used because a lot of times it wasn't. Especially in southern field hospitals, there wasn't a supply of chloroform. There were many documented cases were soldiers passed out from the pain, or were so exhausted that they slept through the surgery. Norther field hospitals were better supplied mostly, but there were times that the demand overwhelmed the supply and soldiers faced the same issues as their southern counterparts
During my genealogy research years ago I discovered one of my ancestors in the 101st Pennsylvania Infantry had barely survived fighting at Gettysburg. His health was never quite the same after that battle and his wife had to help him get around.
I honor all of our ancestors who served on both sides of the line in the sand during the War Between The States.
I recently found put 2 great x4 grandparents fought for the south I'm Georgia. One died during the battle of Atlanta. Not sure if he died in battle or died from his wounds from battle.
Weird history Halloween food from Pagan times to now how it has changed and the history of trick or treating and treats evolution
Ooo id love that
I am Pagan, just wondering when the ' Pagan times' were. I know what you are going for, but, we are still here.
There are many books, BTW, if you are genuinely interested.
If anyone is ever interested in learning more about the men who were treated unsuccessfully, Oakwood Cemetery’s Confederate Section is where 16,000 of them were buried. Many of the men buried there have names attached to them and some of the records (including medical and muster roll records) still survive to this day.
If you do go there, it might help give you an idea of the sheer scale of the war around Richmond and central Virginia.
Such a timely video! I participated in the Cedar Creek reenactment in Virginia today. God save the Union!
During the Battle of Hanover, the Union set up a field hospital at my 4th great -grandfathers saddle shop. My 3rd great -grandmother was about 13 at the time. She would tell stories of screaming soldiers having legs and arms amputated and dipped in tar to stop the bleeding. The only anesthesia the soldiers had was to get drunk as possible before surgery. She attended the Gettysburg Address and actually got to meet and shake hands with Abraham Lincoln. Every house she lived in always had a photo of Abraham Lincoln in the window.
She was interviewed in the 1930’s by a local newspaper. In her own words…
“The night before the battle we were warned to leave town because they were afraid it would be burned down by the rebels. My mother put a lot of things in a sheet and started out across the fields with us children. We were taken in by a farmer named Daniel Bear. We stayed there overnight, but mother took us home the next day.
The morning of the battle I went to the square with a wash basket of bread and a kettle of apple butter and helped feed the soldiers that were coming into Hanover.” She continued, “The soldiers were awful tired and hungry and were glad to get the food people were giving them. The square was full of townspeople with baskets of food. Then word came that General Stuart and his Calvary were coming. General Kilpatrick told us there was going to be fighting and we should all get off the street. I started to run home, but before I could get across the street some of the rebel cavalry came along. The officer halted his men for a moment so we could get by. I ran kept running until I got home. Just as I started through the door of my house a bullet hit a rain spout, glanced off, and grazed my dress. I surely was glad to get in the house.
All that day my mother baked bread and fed the soldiers. She must have used at least a barrel of flour. She had to give the food at the back door because the rebels were across the street. That night we slept in potato bins in the cellar. It was cold down there.
The day after the fight in Hanover the battle started in Gettysburg. That’s about 16 miles west of Hanover. The soldiers kept coming back and bringing the wounded with them. We had some of them in my father’s saddle shop. That’s it right there in the picture, with the sign on it. About 15 of the soldiers who were just resting slept in the front room of our house. They were all pretty young. Some of the girls who carried victuals to the soldiers fell in love with them. I can’t blame them much; the boys did look mighty nice in their uniforms. My, but those were exciting times!”
In WWI a mere half a century after the civil war, sections of the Versailles were modified for a hospital
I have a relative who was a surgeon's assistant during the civil war union 23rd Connecticut regiment.
Thank you, modern medicine, for being better than literally no medicine.
I remember seeing the movie “How The West Was Won “and they portrayed a civil war field hospital. When they amputated a man’s leg they would just throw a bucket of water on the blood stained table and brought the next soldier to be treated.
It is so surprising how resented doctors after the Civil War were to learning about germs. It took them awhile to realize washing hand helped avoid infection.
Shout out to the Union Army
Cheers from San Diego California 🇺🇸
Yellow Fever was also a cause of death in the South. It was very common and took thousands of lives both soldiers and civilians.
The surgeons did what they could with their limited knowledge. Just 10 years after the war germ theory was discovered and looking back many of them were horrified at how they operated. However 70% of amputees survived. It was the very first war with general anesthesia administered which allowed surgeons to tie off blood vessels and smooth off the bone that allowed the stump to be fitted with prosthetics. Still, it was common (at least early on) for wounded soldiers to lie on the battlefield for days without food, water, or any painkillers before finally getting care.
My great great grandfather had his leg amputated after laying all night on the battlefield. Maggots got into the wound and doctors told him that saved his life. He went on to have 14 children.
A civil war reenactor who played a surgeon told me once that they used lead powder or mercury powder on open wounds to clog the arteries from bleeding people out.
I read Ulysses S Grant’s autobiography. It taught me a lot about the Civil War that I would have never guessed.
At night, a confederate river boat would float downstream near a Union camp, a Union guard would fire a shot over its bow, the confederate boat would drop anchor, and the Union officers would paddle up to the confederate boat and board it. They’d play cards and drink whiskey and hang out. These were typically officers who had gone to West Point together.
Confederate soldiers would trade tobacco with union soldiers in exchange for a biscuit or something to eat.
The field generals communicated through telegraph signals and there were crews constantly installing these lines mounted on small phone poles (5’ high or so). There were also people constantly tearing them down. These lines would tie together into a large communication network that would end up going all the way to Lincoln himself.
The rate at which these soldiers could build bridges to cross rivers was insane. They built over 100 in one month.
As the confederates retreated, they would destroy railroad tracks. The Union would rebuild them just as fast. (think supply lines) The confederate soldiers began putting the tracks onto large fires to melt or heat the steel tracks to cause warpage in an effort to make them unusable. The Union soldiers were so good at straightening the track back out to re-install them that the Confederate soldiers began heating up the tracks in the middle and wrapping them around large trees to cool (like a knot) so the Union soldiers couldn’t use them. (but they did)
Basically, when the sun set, the soldiers stopped fighting. The same is true during the cold rainy months of winter.
One evening as Grant rode up to his camp, nearby confederate soldiers saluted him as a sign of respect.
The Union soldiers had better provisions but the confederate soldiers had better rifles and typically were accurate with their weapon, having hunted their entire lives which was also true of many Union soldiers.
According to Grant, most or many confederate soldiers went to war because their plantation master instructed them to fight. Most were poor sharecroppers with no education and no means of support other than working on the plantation. Most southerners did not owns slaves bc they’d couldn’t afford a slave. These plantation owners would be happy to send their own sons to war but wanted their slaves to stay and work the farm.
There was a confederate regiment out of Louisiana made up of free black men who were themselves slave owners.
The Union had companies made up of all black men.
Not in his book…
The confederate occupation in the war was funded almost entirely by plantation owners. There was no confederate tax revenue to speak of bc it was a new “country”. At the end of the civil war, most of these plantation owners were bankrupt.
It took almost 100 years for the south to recover economically. Many parts of the south didn’t have electricity during the depression (1930s) and electricity is the instrument/resource that provides opportunity for impoverished areas.
The civil war was a terrible event for a young nation but ending slavery was worth the tradgedy. Unfortunately, many nations continued with slavery well into the 20th century. Some countries still practice slavery today. Most are in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.
When the US was founded in 1776, almost every country in the world had slavery. England was the first to end slavery and they forced France to end it. They even fought hard to stop the slave trade at its epicenter, Africa, but the African kings refused to give up their revenue streams.
Learn more about white slavery from, “White Slavery of the Barbary Coast”.
Read about the Barbary Wars to learn about the US government paying Muslims slave traders to free Americans who had been enslaved. We went to war and signed a treaty with the African Muslim ruler and after signing the treat AND paying them money, they broke the treaty by enslaving more American ship crews. In the early part of the US history, paying these African kings money to not enslave Americans was 10% of our federal spendings. Finally Thomas Jefferson kicked their ass and they stopped.
Thomas Jefferson’s slave with whom he impregnated a few times was also his sister in law. His wife had already died.
What was the video about? I’ve forgotten.
But... but autun shey said they were big doodoo heads and if you don't believe they were the scum of the earth you're just a lost causer :(
Learned another Historical lesson here. I’m Intrigued.
Thank you for sharing ✨
And everyone keeps blaming us for it, goddamn. Africa needs to pay reparations for once.
Thanks for this! 🏥 #WeirdHistory #MedicalHistory
maggot therapy is still used today in some cases since they eat the dead tissue and not the healthy tissue
Sounds like the modern day NHS
im a history buff in sf, your channel is a great influence on my developing channel.
Showing a photo of McClellan while narrating about tough decisions was rather amusing. The minie ball (which resemble the cannons in Mario 3) were vicious in blowing out flesh and shattering bones. The remains of amputated arms and legs are shattered and split down the bone. Some even carry the minie ball still wedged in the bone. It's a sobering sight to see.
I can save you time. It was fucking horrific.
Could you do one on what was it like going through Ellis Island since several of my relatives went through there
I’m surprised you didn’t mention the miné ball which was responsible for the destruction of bones and organs
One of the biggest killers of soldiers on both sides of the war was dental infections of all kinds. A dental infection combined with the fact that no antibiotics existed led to infections that went directly to the brain.
I think I could have worked in a field hospital. I would have rather been an orderly in a hospital than to be a soldier on the battlefield.
They say the lucky ones got saved in the hospital maybe the lucky ones really died in the field and was spared the horror of the hospital
Not surprised about the turpentine. It was used as a remedy for a few things, especially against parasites... however, if taken incorrectly without consideration for dosage, it can do extensive damage to the lungs among other problems.
This is so sad, I'm definitely strongly aligned with one side, but I feel bad for all of them for fighting in theses conditions and THEN the condition of the medical care.
So many brave people suffered grievous injuries and/or death in order to free folks from slavery. Too bad the sacrifice of those soldiers is forgotten by most people.
Great video. I love anything American Civil war
Enjoyed your video so I gave it a Thumbs Up
In all fairness, using maggots to eat dead flesh is still used today.
So they got SOMETHING right.
I'm aware that the Ulysses S Grant thing was a throwaway bit, but the idea that he was constantly drunk was a myth - often propagated by Pro-Southern historians (Lost Cause types) and people otherwise bitter at Grant and his subordinates like Sherman and Sheridan (even Union/Northerners when the war wasn't going well).
He definitely had some really low points - mostly when he was posted away from his family and missed them badly - where he drank more than he should have. But especially during the Civil War where he had purpose and his focus was attuned, he didn't wander around drunk ordering men to die in droves. He was committed to ending the war and humbling the South into submission. Drunkeness and bloodlust didn't have much to do with how he led.
I don't blame him for drinking as much as he did, with the amount of stress he had to deal with. A lot of the Generals during the war were sociopaths, but he felt his soldier's death he sent into combat. His memoirs that I have read are kind of sad, especially talking about his presidency.
Im so sick of everything being blamed on "lost cause types". Ever consider than when somebody finds a different number or opinion that MAYBE it's not a friggin lost causer? Seriously.
"Ulyses S Grant was a drunkard? Totally no way anyone would ever think that ever and the only people at all who would even suggest the idea are lost causers!"
That goes into everything too. "Jim heard from his grandmother that her grandfather didn't support slavery? MUST BE A LOST CAUSER!"
"Someone doesn't support the absolute brutality the union did on the south both during and after the war? CLEARLY A SIGN THAT THEY THINK THE WAR HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH SLAVERY!!!!"
"Somebody is proud to be from the south or has a rebel flag for any reason at all? CLOSET NAZIS AND RACISTS!!!!"
"somebody thinks the south had catchy tunes? OH AND I GUESS LEE WAS A BETTER THAN ALEXANDER THE GREAT TOO, HUH LOST CAUSER!?!?"
friggin annoying garbage that these autun shey types always say. No. The average dude who thinks Grant was a drunkard is NOT a lost causer. It's just a guy who didn't dig into a thousand records about his drinking habits. I know, the horror. Surely thats just lost cause propaganda.
I was upset by his reference to Grant. You did a better job of responding than I would have. The North was very lucky to have Grant. He was a soldier thru and thru, with no political agenda. He was loyal to his Comander and Chief, and hated war. His strategy was to bring it a an end as fast as possible. Unfortunately, his reputation was destroyed by the excesses in his administration as president. There's no evidence that he was dishonest, but he was tarred with those who were. Again, thanks for your comment.
battlefield casualties were rather low, most of the deaths during wars were disease, and wound treatment
So battlefield casualties
Thats like when people say “the nazis didnt kill most of the jews, disease did” yeah disease from being locked in camps maybe
@@bootyholebandit2905 no, I'm pretty sure this guy meant off the battlefield more deaths happened or something.
And disease brought on by wounds. The common one I’ve read from those buried at Oakwood Cemetery’s Confederate Section (a cemetery that mainly buried the dead from Chimborazo and the 20+ other hospitals in Richmond, Virginia) was disease instigated by their injuries.
A common one is getting shot in the leg and dying roughly one Month after sustaining the wound.
Can you do a video about the guys in the Rat Pack? :)
A+ video!
Very shocking video, health care practices are so much different today!
This is the video that should be shown to anyone that thinks it's an inconvenience to share a room in the hospital!
The Real Horror is the B-Roll footage Weird History Always Uses 😂
It is a myth that U.S. Grant was a drinker. In fact, the man rarely drank, because he was a lightweight. That myth was started by his rivals as a character assassination. Simply watch any modern documentary on TV about him and it'll be debunked.
@@sasquatch7234 - 'sas I said, watch any documentary on him.
This channel is just 🔥🔥
I noticed something you forgot to include: the image of an active field hospital.
More specifically, you forgot to include the photograph of the field hospital at Savage’s Station, which, when the photograph was taken, was a day before the facility (and the station) would be assaulted by confederate forces during the Seven Days Battles in the Battle of Savage’s Station.
My grandfather was put under with Chloroform for kidney stone surgery. Back when they had to cut you open for stones.
Thank god I was born after significant medical advances, or I’d probably be dead by now; especially with as many stones as I’ve had.
This was only like a hundred and 60 years ago! I’m really glad I have lived when/where I live.
Actually the rumors of Grant being constantly drunk have been debunked. He did not drink anywhere near the amount that has been attributed to him.
Yes, he did enjoy his booze but he only drank it when it was an appropriate time.
I'd rather be working in one than a patient in one.
Thank you for the ones who gave they lives to be on the right side of history
Sawing off limbs
You could say it was a blast! :D
Maggots do work wonders. When you're expecting them.
I'd taken care I'd a homeless person in LA who lived in the woods. He came in to be seen because while he attempted to sleep, a bird would keep pecking at a large boil on his forehead.
When we asked him to change out of his rather odiferous clothing caked in a sundry bodily fluids and the such. When he bent over to take off his pants, it be came clear as to why the bird was adamant in its pecking. As maggots began pouring put of his forehead, falling to the floor, wriggling and writhing by the dozens. One thing I'm grateful for, is that i was able to call environmental services to tidy up
I wonder if 161 years from now medical professionals will think us as barbaric. However, from what I understand of contemporary med school grads we may be moving back to skill levels of the 1860s.
I believe cosmetic surgery will looked upon grimly by then
@@meestabond7583 especially botulism toxin
Lmfao. Not even close. While they may look at us as imperfect, we are way better medically than ever.
I don’t think it’s the healthcare that will be looked down upon, but the politics 🙄
Not even 100 years ago it was a perfectly acceptable and industry-approved standard to cut out an entire section of a person's brain to treat mental illness. For every major advancement in medicine there are a few blunders.
I want a "Gettysburg Surgery" scented candle now!!!
The opening scene from Free State of Jones was a good reference to the carnage of the American Civil War. That would be a cool video to do, about the real Free State of Jones?
It took 10 hours at the community center to have the state certify me in exactly everything you said here, and more.
Anyone wanna go hiking?
had the Drs. used the readily available VINEGAR they might have saved more lives?
Not enough is said in these about the Satterlee General Hospital which was the largest Union hospital. It was located in W. Philadelphia...just west of where the Univ. of PA is today.
After the fifth or sixth person came in and the nurse said “what’s the best course of treatment,” and the doc responded, “amputate,” no one still questioned it?
Yeah because, even today, a minié ball to the leg would still require amputation.
medical supplies were one of the few things that were freely traded between the armies.
The limbs very piled out beside the hospital but it was not like a hospital in today's measure. 8t was just a building where the surgeons treated wounds.
I’m gonna put maggots and whiskey in my IFAK.
It'd be a hilarious nightmare
Hilarious is maybe a bit of a stretch 🤣
Can you please do a video on Generations
Thanks. Not as bad as I thought, actually.
Underground railroad is what you need to talk about in depth
It would suck
The reason many think anesthesia wasn't used was because they'd run so low, or out of it completely by the middle, or end of the war. Often it was saved for officers. Originally it was used, by the end of the war you were usually screwed.
Pop
That little shot at Grant for being a drunk made me laugh. It’s highly exaggerated of course; Grant only really drank during periods where nothing was happening. Still funny though
I own a pair of Confederate battlefield dropped field glasses from Gettysburg. You can see where a three ring minie or other type of bullet hit one side of them. My purchase didn't include the leather case for them and the strap was gone.
Sad 😭
Could you do a history of famous Southern lynchings next please?