Before the Civil War, the old battlefield technique of healing limbs was to put doses of chemicals on the wound. War surgeons soon discovered that the best way to stop deadly infections was to chop off the infected area quickly. Amputation saved more lives than any other wartime medical procedure by instantly turning complex injuries into simple ones. The process of amputation started with a soldier getting wounded, usually by a Minie bullet. Then, the Infirmary Corps would carry the wounded soldier off the battle field and set him on an ambulance, who would take him to the field tent right behind the troop lines. An assistant surgeon would then give the soldier alcohol and painkillers to relieve the pain. Later, the assistant surgeon would
