Hospitals and Medicine in the American Civil War 1861-1865 - Research Paper Example

Many women volunteered to become nurses during the civil war, which was an indication of their strength to care for the men who were out fighting. In the military hospitals, the duties of the nurses were usually domestic. They prepared and served meals, making sure that they accommodated every patient’s diet. The doctors were the determinants whether a patient was to receive a low, half or full diet. Nurses had to maintain track of every patient’s meal. In addition, nurses were supposed to supply linens and clothing to the soldiers.

The nurses participated in surgeries by providing emotional support to the soldiers during the surgery process. They participated in talking, writing and reading for the soldiers in order to give them emotional support. In most hospitals, the nurses were sisters, who came from different religious orders. Civil war nurses used to wear dark colors, usually black or brown color, which was a requirement by the government. The dresses were designed to serve the function and were not meant for fashion.

During the civil war, the hospitals were under staffed. Physicians had a variety of medications at their reach to treat injured and sick soldiers. Some of the medications that they used are used even today. Many medications were effective but crude; others had a placebo effect only. Anesthetics were commonly used during the civil war and mostly in amputations. . The hospitals did not have well trained doctors since during that period; there were no medical schools to train the doctors. The few doctors who had acquired medical knowledge were not adequately trained to perform most of the required performance for treatment.

In the hospitals, there were no antibiotics because, at the time, medical technology had not developed. Doctors relied mostly on herbal medicine in prescribing treatments. The doctors did not sterilize or clean wounds during medication. The hospitals were mainly not housed, and most of the treatments and services were provided outside. The nurses, who worked with the doctors, were also untrained and were mainly sisters professing different religions. Most of the nurses worked under volunteer ship.

Doctors treated patients on the ground without worrying about the dirty condition or the environment. Most people developed infections after surgery, and this condition was referred as surgical fever. Hospital systems, which provide hospital care to the patients, had not been developed. X-rays, blood typing and modern health tests and procedures did not exist. Before the civil war, there were no military hospitals. When the civil war broke, it was deemed necessary to have hospitals where soldiers and other patients received treatments.

During the time, many buildings and institutions were converted in to hospitals. Some of the major hospitals during the time were Campbell Hospital, Armory Square Hospital, Harewood Hospital and Reynolds Barracks Hospital. These hospitals received many patients despite, the problems that they faced. Surgery was the commonest treatment for wounds, despite the low chance for survival. Before the civil war, the number of doctors who had ever performed