War hospital perscriptions series#

Systematic funding appeals raised public consciousness, as well as millions of dollars. Numerous other new agencies also targeted the medical and morale needs of soldiers, including the United States Christian Commission as well as smaller private agencies such as the Women's Central Association of Relief for Sick and Wounded in the army (WCAR) founded in 1861 by Henry Whitney Bellows, and Dorothea Dix. In the Union skilled, well-funded medical organizers took proactive action, especially in the much enlarged United States Army Medical Department, and the United States Sanitary Commission, a new private agency. Surgeon majors were also charged with ensuring that regimental surgeons were in compliance with the orders issued by the medical director of the army. The surgeon majors were assigned staffs and were charged with overseeing a new brigade-level hospital that could serve as an intermediary level between the regimental and general hospitals. New surgeons were promoted to serving at the brigade level with the rank of major. The number of hospitals was greatly increased and he paid close attention to aeration. Hammond raised the requirements for admission into the Army Medical Corps. He founded the Army Medical Museum, and had plans for a hospital and a medical school in Washington a central laboratory for chemical and pharmaceutical preparations was created much more extensive recording was required from the hospitals and the surgeons.

War hospital perscriptions series#

Hammond became surgeon general and launched a series of reforms. These men served in the initial makeshift regimental hospitals. To implement the plan, orders were issued on May 25 that each regiment must recruit one surgeon and one assistant surgeon to serve before they could be deployed for duty. Tripler created plans to enlist regimental surgeons to travel with armies in the field, and the creation of general hospitals for the badly wounded to be taken to for recovery and further treatment. McClellan appointed the first medical director of the army, surgeon Charles S. McClellan and the organization of the Army of the Potomac.

This view changed after the appointment of General George B. Union commanders believed the war would be short and there would be no need to create a long-standing source of care for the army's medical needs. After the Battle of Bull Run, the United States government took possession of several private hospitals in Washington, D.C., Alexandria, Virginia, and surrounding towns. When the war began, there were no plans in place to treat wounded or sick Union soldiers. This was a common scenario in wars from time immemorial, and conditions faced by the Confederate army were even worse. Harsh weather, bad water, inadequate shelter in winter quarters, poor policing of camps and dirty camp hospitals took their toll. There were no antibiotics, so the surgeons prescribed coffee, whiskey, and quinine. Operations in the South meant a dangerous and new disease environment, bringing diarrhea, dysentery, typhoid fever, and malaria. First came epidemics of the childhood diseases of chicken pox, mumps, whooping cough, and, especially, measles. The hygiene of the camps was poor, especially at the beginning of the war when men who had seldom been far from home were brought together for training with thousands of strangers. Main article: Union (American Civil War) § Medical conditions