WHAT INFLUENCE DID THE CIVIL WAR HAVE ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF MEDICAL CARE?

1861-1865

William Hammond, Female Nurses, and Relief Organizations: Welcome

AN UNKNOWN HERO/WILLIAM HAMMOND

Who was this truly unknown medical professional, and what did he contribute to Medical Advances during the Civil War?

It is fairly clear that the Union was far ahead of the Confederates, pertaining to the Medical Aspect. The Union had more doctors, better doctors, better tools, and instituted better programs aimed at the treatment of the wounded. Lots of those things came out of the effort of this man, William Hammond. Stationed to the University of Maryland - Baltimore, Hammond was appointed Union Surgeon General in May 1862.

Hammond launched numerous reforms for the Union Medical Corps, increased number of hospitals, ordered hospitals to keep more complete records, proposed a permanent military medical corps and permanent hospital, centralized issue of medicine, a medical military laboratory, and transferring responsibility for sanitary trains to the government. He also oversaw the beginning of Letterman's ambulance system, recognizing for his efforts, and promoting him.

He instituted enlarged supply tables and hospital clothing for patients, and directed the organization of the National Museum of Health and Medicine/Army Medical Museum and the collection of specimens for exhibition.

During the war, both sides used a mercury drug called Calomel, consisting of chalk, honey, and licorice, and mixed with mercury. Both sides worshipped this drug as a cure-all, and prescribed it for almost anything. The drug did nothing more but add to the patient's pain. If doctors didn't see the patient react well, the patient was given more. Realizing the drug was poisonous, Hammond immediately demanded Calomel to be removed from the Union Medical Supply. He was laughed at by his colleagues, was court-martialed, and replaced soon after. Only a few years later, a study proved that his suspicion was correct, that Calomel was a highly toxic drug. His efforts to promote safe medicine did have far-reaching effects around the world, about the use of Calomel in the United States.

In the years after the war, he became a pioneer in studies of neurology, the human nervous system, and the human brain. He became a professor for the University of Vermont - Burlington, and the University of the City of New York. He even helped found the Post Graduate Medical School of New York. In the 1870's Congress restored him to the Army and placed him on the list of retired Surgeon Generals. In 1888, he moved to Washington D.C, and established a sanitarium for the care of cases of nervous and mental ailments. He wrote multiple books, including the first American neurology textbook - Treatise on Diseases of the Nervous System. He also helped to found the American Neurological Association.

Now it is obvious that Hammond's contributions to the Union war effort were nothing less than extraordinary. But, he has gone down in history as almost totally unknown. It is important that we learn more of his story, and appreciate his contributions to worldwide medicine.

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William Hammond, Female Nurses, and Relief Organizations: Intro

RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS

Who helped tend to wounded soldiers? What were these organizations? What are their stories?

Being a "war of firsts", the Civil War was the first war to see strong domestic support in the institution of relief organizations. Various relief agencies were set up on both sides and supported the governments' efforts by gathering food and medical supplies, and providing nursing and assistance to the wounded. Another surprising aspect, at the time, is that women were the driving force behind the foundations of many organizations. Women served as nurses, deliverers, and managers of multiple relief agencies.

United States of America

U.S Sanitary Commission - Set up in June 1861, under orders from the federal government, their job was to inspect and improve sanitary conditions in Union camps and hospitals. They also provided medical supplies, nursing supplies, and care for the wounded. Although being headed by men, most of the dirty work was performed by women, as the Commission itself was an outgrowth of the Women's Central Relief Organization of New York. They set up headquarters in 10 northern cities, which eventually became aid societies. The Commission also collected and distributed clothing, food, supplies, and medicine directly to the soldiers, equipped hospital boats with supplies, and helped evacuate wounded from the front lines. 'Rest Stops' were also set up for traveling, and the group also helped soldiers receive their pensions and/or paychecks. Overall, the group contributed $20 million (over $290 million in today's dollars) to the Union war effort.

United States Christian Commission - Started in 1861 by the Young Men's Christian Association in New York, they raised $6 million for the Union war effort. They delivered food, coffee, paper, stamps, and also set up reading rooms in camps, with Bibles, magazines, and books.

Western Sanitary Commission - Formed in Saint Louis, under the orders of John C. Fremont, this group was operated independently. They built hospitals, kitchens, and provided medical supplies to soldiers in the Saint Louis area. They even outfitted the City of Louisiana as a hospital ship.

Confederate States of America

Association for the Relief of Maimed Soldiers - This was the only relief society organized throughout the Confederacy. This group supplied artificial limbs to soldiers who had undergone amputations. The Confederate Congress later approved an act to authorize the process of manufacturing, purchasing, and placing artificial limbs on Confederate soldiers.

Richmond Ambulance Committee - Formed by men exempt from military duty, volunteers helped tend to, feed, and transport wounded Confederates to local hospitals. Members' contributions paid nearly all expenses. This group was present at nearly every engagement of the Army of Northern Virginia, including Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and Petersburg.

Women's Relief Societies in the South - This organization set up hundreds of local relief societies, which collected clothing, food, and medical supplies for soldiers. They also oversaw the process of setting up wayside hospitals to provide nursing, and lodging for wounded soldiers traveling home.

William Hammond, Female Nurses, and Relief Organizations: Body

THE ROLE OF FEMALE NURSES

What role did women play in treating and caring for wounded? How does this translate to modern day?

The Civil War was the first time in American History that women saw a major role in battle. That wasn't on the battlefield, but in the hospital. The war has been credited as the war that opened the nursing profession to women. Florence Nightingale made a name for herself before the war, and published her book - Notes on Nursing. Despite her work, many still disapproved of women entering the male-dominated field of medical care. Resistance to women in medicine were heard around the country, North and South, but less in the North, where women began to move out of more traditional roles. In the Northern states, women became more involved in factories, schools (teaching), and especially the Women's Rights Movement, and the Abolitionist Movement.

Sisters Elizabeth and Emily Blackwell, under Dorothea Dix, began offering training for women interested in nursing through the Women's Central Relief Association in New York. William Hammond even called for 1/3 of the Union Medical Corps to be women. In both armies combined, there were about 3,200 women who held a nursing position, and many more unpaid volunteers. Catholic Nuns were the only group of women who had experience in nursing, and worked frequently on Naval Hospitals. Male Doctors still did downplay the role of women in the medical field, saying even "their best service was rendered in connection with extra diet, the linen room, and the laundry".

But, according to soldier's memoirs, they say that women brought a kinder tenderness, and personable care than their male counterpart. The efforts of these women in the 19th century heavily influenced the Women's Rights Movement, and allowed for women to employed as Nurses in the U.S Army for years to come.

Famous Female Nurses

Kate Cumming - Cumming was a Confederate Nurse, who managed dietary and housekeeping operations of several Georgia Hospitals. Her diary, A Journal of the Hospital Life in the Confederate Army of Tennessee, was later published.

Mary Ann Bickerdyke - Bickerdyke was an Illinois woman who worked at field hospitals around the state, and eventually was transferred to the front lines of the Western Theater. She was known for her uncanny ability to find food and quickly prepare a great meal.

Ella King Newsom - Dubbed "Florence Nightingale of the South", Newsom oversaw domestic operations for several Tennessee hospitals from 1861-62, and became matron of the Academy Hospital in Chattanooga. She also helped in setting up hospitals in Georgia after the War.

Louisa May Alcott - Alcott is widely known as the author of Little Women, but her life as a Union Nurse is frequently overlooked. She wrote a book titled Hospital Sketches, which helped establish her as a writer and gave readers a glimpse into the details of the War.

Dorothea Dix - One of the most well known figures surrounding Civil War Medicine, Dix was the Union superintendent of female nurses. She was known for her work with the mentally ill, and earned a reputation of stubbornness, and rigidity. Despite facing opposition on several fronts, she did her job very well, and got the Union nursing program started.

Sally Louisa Tompkins - Dubbed "The Angel of the Confederacy", Tompkins set up a hospital for wounded soldiers in Richmond, and used private nurses. But, she was also heavily criticized for her use of slave labor. Nevertheless, she earned a reputation of cleanliness and healing, as only 73 of the 1,333 soldiers she treated died. She was later appointed a captain in the Confederacy.

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William Hammond, Female Nurses, and Relief Organizations: Body