Civil War Medical Advances Essay

Many see Civil War medicine as primitive and ignore the amazing medical advancements made during this time. Some of the procedures of that time have influenced the way doctors treat patients today. For example, prosthetics were invented during the Civil War, which are still used today. The ambulance system was also created during the civil war, changing the way patients were transported, and helped them get care sooner which helped save lives. Lastly, the sanitary commission was created. During the beginning of the war many died from disease and infection caused by the unsanitary conditions, so the commission created regulations reducing the number of deaths from these conditions. The Civil war was a significant time for medical advancements because of the influence the progress of that time has had on the procedures of today.
The first major medical advancement from the Civil War is The Sanitary Commission. The Sanitary Commission was originally created by women in 1861 to promote health in the Union army camps. It was then taken over by men who expanded its roles in military matters (Smith 18). With disease being the primary killer of men during …show more content…
James Edward Hanger was hit in the leg by a cannonball just two days after enlisting and had to have that leg amputated. He created the first prosthetic limb for himself when he returned home from the war, and after the war ended, he received the U.S. patent for his invention. This artificial leg was able to bend at the knee and the ankle as opposed to the peg leg he was provided with after his amputations. Although he had originally only created the limb for himself, it lead to an important part of many peoples lives today. Prosthetics are life changing for many war veterans, as they allow for mobility and independence for those who would not otherwise have it. This is all thanks to the evolution of Hanger’s original