In my new historical romance release, The Christmas Ball, the hero is a surgeon in the Union Army. In my work-in-progress, ‘The Physician’s Irish Lady’, a post-Civil War romance, the hero is a physician who was a Union surgeon in the war.
Civil War field surgeons were often called butchers, but it was the weaponry of the day, the slow-moving minie bullet that was responsible for the catastrophic injuries and amputations that were so common in Civil War field hospitals. At the Battle of Chickamauga, John Bell Hood’s leg was struck by two minie bullets, shattering five inches of his upper thigh bone. Surgeons had no choice other than amputation with the state of nineteenth century medicine. Men who lost arms, such as Stonewall Jackson and Oliver O. Howard, had high morality rates. Amputees were a very visible reminder of the brutality of this war. At the time, weaponry had far surpassed the medical techniques needed to aid such injuries.
Soldiers wounded in battle might wait at least a day, maybe two before treatment could be administered. And antiseptics weren’t used in surgery until 1865, the final year of the war. Even a simple precaution like hand washing wasn’t routinely done before a surgeon operated. Clothes of doctors were blood splattered while going from patient to patient. If something was dropped during the surgery, it would be rinsed in cool, bloodied water. Sponges were dipped in cool water and used over again on different patients.
One surgeon recalled: “We operated in old blood-stained and often pus-stained coats, we used undisinfected instruments from undisinfected plush lined cases. If a sponge (if they had sponges) or instrument fell on the floor it was washed and squeezed in a basin of water and used as if it was clean.” http://ehistory.osu.edu/uscw/features/medicine/cwsurgeon/amputations.cfm
The term “Sawbones” was used to describe a doctor because the bonesaw was a common instrument used to amputate a shattered limb. The surgeon would saw through the bone until it was severed. The limb was then tossed into a pile of limbs from other unfortunate patients. “A good surgeon could amputate a limb in under 10 minutes.” http://ehistory.osu.edu/uscw/features/medicine/cwsurgeon/amputations.cfm
Only if a soldier was lucky would he escape what were known as “Surgical Fevers”. Gangrene, Pyemia, a form of blood poisoning; as well as other infections developed from the lack of cleanliness and antibiotics, which didn’t exist at the time, and the fact that surgeons were required to work with speed. Once an infection entered the body, it was difficult to treat with the medicines available.
For more information on Civil War surgery:
http://www.historynet.com/the-truth-about-civil-war-surgery-2.htm
http://www.civilwarhome.com/armysurgeon.htm
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/local/longterm/tours/civilwar/medmus.htm
The Christmas Ball is available from The Wild Rose Press http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=195&products_id=5026
Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-christmas-ball-susan-macatee/1113749511?ean=2940015922417
and All Romance Ebooks https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thechristmasball-995347-158.html
Hi,
I’ve been researching both, nurses and surgeons for my WIP which starts at Amory Square Hospital in Washington DC and moves to Chancellorsville. My hero was at Antietam and Fredericksburg, before he lost it and was sent back to Washington. Thanks for sharing the links. I’ll be checking them out.
Sounds like an intriguing story, Kathy! I’ve visited the Antietam battlefield and my husband visited Fredericksburg.
The English soldiers called them Butchers as well. I have the feeling things weren’t much different.
Hi, Ella! It’s no wonder with the state of medicine in that time period and the horrible wounds from the weaponry, and those weapons kept growing more deadly as the war progressed.
It seems to me it was heaven sent if you died immediately from the gun shot. Can you imagine the pain they suffered? WOW amazing the doctors could work like thatl.
I’d say you’re right, Paisley! And that doesn’t even take into account those who died later of infections because antibiotics didn’t yet exist.
Wonderful post! I’m hoping to read it in the next day or two.
Thanks, Lisa!
Great (if a bit icky) post, Susan. We visited the Manassas/Bull Run Battlefields last spring. I’ve also been to Gettysburg many times, which I think we’ve discussed before.
Thanks, Ally! It sure is icky and my story moves from the gritty battlefield and on into the grand Washington D.C. ball. So, I had to cover all angles when doing research.
[…] If you saw the recent movie, Lincoln, you will remember the scene where Lincoln’s son comes across another type of wagon filled with assorted limbs. Author Susan Macatee has a great blog post on the state of the Civil War surgeon and surgery that sets the scene for Gettysburg: https://susanmacatee.wordpress.com/2012/12/03/monday-inspiration-the-civil-war-surgeon/ […]