3. Crude Medical Care and Surgery
Medical care during the Civil War was often primitive and harrowing. Surgeons performed countless amputations—many without adequate anesthesia—while lacking the means to prevent infection or pain. Without antibiotics, even minor wounds could turn fatal. Medical tools were reused between patients, spreading deadly bacteria and raising the risk of gangrene. The American Battlefield Trust highlights how these hardships starkly contrast with the advanced, sterile procedures seen on today’s battlefields.
