[stfmg]

The American Civil began in 1861 when 11 southern states declared their independence from the U.S. and called themselves the 'the Confederacy'.
Bloody fighting with 21 northern states where slavery had been abolished continued for four years until the Confederacy finally surrounded in 1865.
The war was the first industrial scale conflict and led to the deaths of over half a million men, with another half million wounded.


This prosthetic leg made of wood is a full left leg, articulated at the knee, with a leather shoe covering the foot. It still retains some of the original flesh-colored paint


This apothecary chest contains medicines in paper envelopes and glass medicine bottles


This canteen held quinine, which was essential in treating malaria


Civil War ambulances were typically equipped with two of these water kegs, issued by the U.S. Medical Dept


This instrument, a fleam, was used for bloodletting. The U-shaped blade is spring-loaded and activated by the trigger above it. The depth of the cut can be regulated by a screw at the base of the lever


Spiral tourniquets were used during amputations to stem bleeding. The cloth strap would be wrapped around the limb, and the metal screw tightened until the blood flow slowed




Left, this bottle contains Dover's Powder, a mix of opium and ipecac used to relieve pain and induce sweating. Right, opium was often used as a medication for pain, coughs, and diarrhea


This carved wooden leg splint was used to stabilise a broken lower leg


This is a wooden stethoscope - the flat end was placed on the patient's back or chest and the cupped end is the ear-piece


This coffin was designed to keep dead bodies fresh. The lower portion was designed to hold ice. The small door at the head of the coffin could be lifted to identify the body inside


An admission ticket to a class at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia in 1853, for an anatomy class. These tickets were purchased by medical students


Calomel was used as a remedy for diarrhea and dysentary. Its only drawback was that it contained highly poisonous mercury


'Spiritus Frumenti' was medicinal alcohol. This tin was part of a hospital knapsack made by the U.S. Medical Dept. which was carried onto the battlefield


An ivory tongue depressor. Though today's are disposable, tongue depressors were reused in the Civil War era


This February 1964 photo shows the entrance to the field hospital at Brandy Station, Virginia. The white structures on each side are the hospital tents.


This picture shows a prosthetics factory in the late 1800s. Almost 150 patents were issued for artificial limb designs between 1861 and 1873


These illustrations are titled 'Hospital Train from Chattanooga to Nashville' and 'The Interior of a Hospital Car' from Harper's Weekly, February 27, 1864. Many wounded soldiers were transported by trains

This April 1862 print shows the 'Interior of a Sanitary Steamer'. Where transportation by train was not practical, medical evacuations were done by boat


This June 7, 1862, print shows the surgical ward at the general hospital in Fort Monroe, Virginia


This photograph was made from an 1888 glass plate negative and shows a Civil War veteran's wound. The subject is Sergeant George Ekert, colour bearer, 74th Reg. Pa. Volunteers

[BrianBear5150]

What is with the photo? Infection?

[Ferocity]

Originally Posted by BrianBear5150 ↗

What is with the photo? Infection?

Dude can't you see there is a hole CLEAN THROUGH HIS NECK? The picture shows a brave American Hero taken down defending what we certainly hope he believed in.

Plane crash 362 posts of em’
Make post about how many plane crashes there are

Most of this stuff is COOL as it comes!!!
My Favorite was the fleam! (emos would get a kick out it!)
The Spiral tourniquet was awesome too! (& it looks like it’s seen its share of patients)

Probably the most unique goes to the Wooden Stethoscope! (I’d love to listen using one of those for some kicks!)

Awesome post

[K53]

150 years ago, this was modern medicine.

[ouagadougou]

Ah, the good old days!

[FunkPumpkin]

Very cool pics and info. Thank you.

[quetza]

Originally Posted by K53 ↗

150 years ago, this was modern medicine.

that's the crazy part. makes you wonder how medicine will be in another 150 years