Doctors In Gray The Confederate Medical Service

“H. H. Cunningham’s Doctors in Gray, first published more than thirty years ago, remains the definitive work on the medical history of the Confederate army. Drawing on a prodigious array of sources, Cunningham paints as complete a picture as possible of the daunting task facing those charged with caring for the war’s wounded and sick. Of the estimated 600,000 Confederate troops, Cunningham claims the 200,000 died either from battle wounds of from illness—the majority, surprisingly, from illness. Despite these grim statistics, Confederate medical personnel frequently performed heroically under the most primitive of circumstances and made imaginative use of limited resources. Cunningham provides detailed information on the administration of the Confederate Medical Department, the establishment and organization of Confederate hospitals, the experiences of medical officers in the field, the manufacture and procurement of supplies, the causes and treatment of diseases, and the beginning of modern surgical practices.” - Print ed.

Similar in scope to H. H. Cunningham's Doctors in Gray, George Worthington Adams' Doctors in Blue, originally published more than forty years ago and now available for the first time in paperback, remains the definitive work on the medical history of the Union army. Adams calculates that 300,000 Union soldiers lost their lives during the war. Confederate attacks account for only a third of these deaths, disease for the rest. In addition, there were a startling 400,000 wounded or injured and almost 6,000,000 cases of illness.

The opening months of the Civil War went on in the midst of confusion and improvisation. This was especially true of the field medical services of both armies which were disorganized and understaffed-and hence not in position to cope with the vast number of wounded soldiers nor treat them properly. Moreover, the ambulance services were woefully inadequate, and the wounded men had to find their way back to the hospitals where overworked surgeons operated around the clock under extraordinarily trying conditions. After the first battle of Bull Run both sides made attempts to reorganize their medical staffs, and after the second battle at Manassas it was obvious that further improvements were necessary. The Union army set about creating a medical service which could cope with a long war, but the Confederacy failed to foresee a similar need, having just won a major victory. In comparing the efforts of both armies to establish efficient medical services, Horace C. Cunningham brings to light an important aspect of this war of attrition.

If this book fulfills its mission, the reader will see the same gore and smell the same putrefaction as did the doctors in blue and gray.

"A gritty, compelling story well told." - Publishers Weekly "Great storytelling that both Civil War buffs and fans of medical history will surely relish." - Kirkus his landmark history charts the practice and progress of American medicine during the Civil War and retells the story of the war through the care given the wounded. Re-creates the often grisly experiences of wounded and sick Civil War soldiers Details efforts by doctors, nurses, politicians, and others to improve care Highlights the work of volunteers like Walt Whitman and Louisa May Alcott

Dealing with the civil war, this title takes a close look at the battlefield doctors in whose hands rested the lives of thousands of Union and Confederate soldiers. It also examines the impact on major campaigns - Manassas, Gettysburg, Vicksburg, Shiloh, Atlanta - of ignorance, understaffing, inexperience, and overcrowded hospitals.

The American Civil War is the most read about era in our history, and among its most compelling aspects is the story of Civil War medicine - the staggering challenge of treating wounds and disease on both sides of the conflict. Written for general readers and scholars alike, this first-of-its kind encyclopedia will help all Civil War enthusiasts to better understand this amazing medical saga. Clearly organized, authoritative, and readable, "The Encyclopedia of Civil War Medicine" covers both traditional historical subjects and medical details. It offers clear explanations of unfamiliar medical terms, diseases, wounds, and treatments. The encyclopedia depicts notable medical personalities, generals with notorious wounds, soldiers' aid societies, medical department structure, and hospital design and function. It highlights the battles with the greatest medical significance, women's medical roles, period sanitation issues, and much more. Presented in A-Z format with more than 200 entries, the encyclopedia treats both Union and Confederate material in a balanced way. Its many user-friendly features include a chronology, a glossary, cross-references, and a bibliography for further study.