Learning from the Wounded: The Civil War and the Rise of American Medical Science

Civil War America

by Shauna Devine

Nearly two-thirds of the Civil War's approximately 750,000 fatalities were caused by disease--a staggering fact for which the American medical profession was profoundly unprepared. In the years before the war, training for physicians in the United States was mostly unregulated, and medical schools' access to cadavers for teaching purposes was highly restricted. Shauna Devine argues that in spite of these limitations, Union army physicians rose to the challenges of the war, undertaking methods of study and experimentation that would have a lasting influence on the scientific practice of medicine.

Genres: History, Civil War, Nonfiction, Medicine, American Civil War, American History

384 pages, Hardcover

First published March 17, 2014

Reviews

[Leslie Goddard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is easily the best book I've read on treatment of the wounded and diseased during the American Civil War. Exhaustively researched and eloquently argued.

While I had already known that Civil War surgeons were hardly primitive barbarians in choosing amputation so frequently, it was enlightening to see just how life-saving amputation could be and how sophisticated the technique became during the war. Far more than that, Devine provides overwhelming and convincing evidence that the war contributed enormously to the education and professionalization of American medicine. It set in motion forces that would improve medicine nationwide and enable great medical leaps in the subsequent decades.

One peeve of mine is when books like this aren't entirely honest in their title and advertising. The more I read, the more I suspected that this book was based on a dissertation (Devine mentions it began in graduate school) about the Army Medical Museum, which forms a central focus of this book. While I understand that publishers have to do this in order to sell books, it always leaves a bad taste in my mouth, like I've been sold something under false pretenses. I'll be more ginger about buying books from Univ of North Carolina Press in the future.

[Nicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm giving this 4/5 stars because it is well written for it's intended audience. Which is not me. I'm really interested in the civil war and was hoping to do some research for a series of books that I want to write. While this is very informative, I decided that it didn't suit my purpose and wasn't for me. That being said, I highly recommend this book to those with a medical interest - both modern and historical.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book on the Civil War to be an incredible resource. I actually lived up the street from the Vicary House, in Freedom, Pennsylvania. Every year they put up a Civil War scene in this beautiful house from that time period, and they always put up all the medical implements that were used back then. They also showed the embalming that was done to send boys home to the families. It was all kind of morbid. We think of medicine not really moving until the 20th century, but the amount of information in this book, with the incredible research done by this author demonstrates how much really was learned during the Civil War, and how this knowledge changed medicine in the United States. It really changed my previous opinion of how backward the medicine was. I was always of the opinion that the doctors did so much amputation to save time, but it actually saved lives because when they didn't amputate immediately, it allowed promotion of various bacteria, including ones that caused gangrene.

This book was fascinating to me, but it isn't an easy read. Lots and lots of research went into this...and some of it repetitive. I didn't mind that so much, because of the emphasis, but I'm sure some readers might have a problem with this. I kind of wonder if this started out as a Ph.D. thesis...but whatever it was, it was a great read for someone interested in the history of medicine, or the history of the Civil War.

[J.J. Knights · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an insightful and informative journey into the realm of American Civil War medicine. Devine explores the concept that the treatment of soldiers in Union Army field hospitals was not as primitive and barbaric as movies and popular culture lead us to believe. As examples, 95% military patients were anesthetized prior to surgery and amputations and every army surgeon was required to submit reports on each surgery and autopsy they performed. They were also required to submit specimens to the newly established Army Medical Museum in Washington, DC. She discusses how the war spurred great leaps in American medical science, including the establishment of the medical museum, which became an unparalleled teaching resource for American doctors. Devine's book would be a invaluable addition to any Civil War library.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book for medical people interested in the history of medicine. Less about specific diseases or surgeries and more about the organization of medicine - specifically Civil War medicine.

The book would have benefited from having clinicians review before final edit/publishing. At times repetitive but overall an informative and worthwhile read.

The Army Medical Museum now exists as the Museum of Civil War medicine. Their website is quite interesting to visit and several videos of their exhibits and lectures are available from their website. Highly recommend visiting and exploring their website and links. I see a visit to the physical museum post Covid!

Respect the Virus.

[Felicia Potter]

This is dense reading probably best for doctors and nurses (just meaning we may be the only ones to find it interesting 😂). I am a nurse and I thought a lot of it was interesting, but it is dry. I feel like Civil War medicine has gotten a bad reputation. I had no idea they were doing all that during the Civil War. If you are looking for a fast paced, exciting book on Civil War medicine with a lot of blood and gore… this isn’t for you. But, if you are interested in the history and organization of the medical field this is right up your alley.

[Marisa]

Not rating this one because this is not even truly a nonfiction read but really an academic text/thesis statement for a really niche target audience. Took me a long time to finish because of that but certainly informative if you have the background to appreciate it.

[☄ · Rating 4 out of 5]

great book, surprisingly huge conversation piece at work, now to read about amputation!!!

[Lori Lassinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is really interesting, although i had to stop and look up medical terms quite a lot. I love history and this surely is a new way to look at history.

[Jennifer Legler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very clinical, reads like a textbook.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like the premise of this book was good and the research was solid but it was presented in a way that seemed disjointed and like it didn't contribute to the overall thesis.

[Katherine Marquardt]

Very interesting how on medicine shifted from the antebellum period to post war due the inexperience physicians having to learn as they go during the war.

[Emily Rajner · Rating 3 out of 5]

for narratives of illness

[Michael Rhode · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's some nice material on the Army Medical Museum in here, and a compelling argument for taking Civil War medical advances seriously. Museum curator George Otis is slighted though, and his colleague Woodward, who resisted the germ theory until the end of his life, is puffed up a bit too much for my taste.

[Heidi Klinowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

This kind of book helps me with the volunteer tours I do at our historic 19th C cemetery

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

eww