The American Civil War is the most read about era in our history, and among its most compelling aspects is the story of Civil War medicine - the staggering challenge of treating wounds and disease on both sides of the conflict. Written for general readers and scholars alike, this first-of-its kind encyclopedia will help all Civil War enthusiasts to better understand this amazing medical saga. Clearly organized, authoritative, and readable, "The Encyclopedia of Civil War Medicine" covers both traditional historical subjects and medical details. It offers clear explanations of unfamiliar medical terms, diseases, wounds, and treatments. The encyclopedia depicts notable medical personalities, generals with notorious wounds, soldiers' aid societies, medical department structure, and hospital design and function. It highlights the battles with the greatest medical significance, women's medical roles, period sanitation issues, and much more. Presented in A-Z format with more than 200 entries, the encyclopedia treats both Union and Confederate material in a balanced way. Its many user-friendly features include a chronology, a glossary, cross-references, and a bibliography for further study.

It wasn't only combat that killed during the Civil War! Among white Federalist troops alone, there were 1,213,685 cases of malaria, 139,638 cases of typhoid fever, 67,762 cases of measles, 61,202 cases of pneumonia, 73,382 cases of syphilis, and 109,202 cases of gonorrhea between May 1, 1861 and June 30, 1866. (Statistics for Negro troops covered less than three years of the Civil War period.) Preventative medicine at the time had little more to offer than quinine and a few disinfectants. There was no real understanding of the germ theory of disease. But Medicines for the Union Army: The United States Army Laboratories During the Civil War shows that in the evolution of the army's Medical Department from incompetence to general efficiency during this time, and in the vastly improved organization and supply system designed by William A. Hammond, Jonathan Letterman, the medical purveyors, and others working under the Surgeon General, there was evidence of a great achievement. In Medicines for the Union Army you will come to understand the medical purveying system of the time and its problems, and you will witness the birth, growth, and remarkable achievements of the Federal government's pharmaceutical laboratories at Astoria, New York, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Medicines for the Union Army will inform and enlighten you about the these laboratories, including: the funding and transportation obstacles faced at the Astoria lab the processes by which raw materials became drugs ready for distribution drug testing and inspection methods the bottling of “medicinal whiskey” and wine at the labs the people whose work laid the foundation for modern drug production and distribution methods the contents of the medical supply cases (panniers) and wagons in use at the time . . . and much more! Medicines for the Union Army: The United States Army Laboratories During the Civil War brings to light the groundbreaking achievements of unsung American heroes working to preserve life while the country was in bloody turmoil. No Civil War historian should be without this volume!

During the Civil War, from 1862-1865, Walt Whitman spent much of his time with wounded soldiers, both in the field and in the hospitals. The 40 notebooks he filled became the basis for the extraordinary diary of a medic in the Civil War.

One-hundred fifty years after the Civil War, there are still untold stories. Over 11,000 surgeons served in the Union army; 10,400 were well behaved. The other 600 were in trouble for embezzlement, insubordination, rape, AWOL, desertion, surliness, stealing food, and a host of other misdeeds. One man was deemed, "Drunk, but not too drunk to operate." Another was hopping into the beds of women in the VD hospital. Yet another forged his own performance reports, reporting his own excellent character. A statistical study compares their incidence of malpractice with one of today's mid-West states.These remarkable stories are accompanied by full citations and are indexed by regiment. An eye-opener and a much-needed reference work.

It wasn't only combat that killed during the Civil War!Among white Federalist troops alone, there were 1,213,685 cases of malaria, 139,638 cases of typhoid fever, 67,762 cases of measles, 61,202 cases of pneumonia, 73,382 cases of syphilis, and 109,202 cases of gonorrhea between May 1, 1861 and June 30, 1866. (Statistics for Negro troops covered less than three years of the Civil War period.)Preventative medicine at the time had little more to offer than quinine and a few disinfectants. There was no real understanding of the germ theory of disease. But Medicines for the Union Army: The United States Army Laboratories During the Civil War shows that in the evolution of the army's Medical Department from incompetence to general efficiency during this time, and in the vastly improved organization and supply system designed by William A. Hammond, Jonathan Letterman, the medical purveyors, and others working under the Surgeon General, there was evidence of a great achievement.In Medicines for the Union Army you will come to understand the medical purveying system of the time and its problems, and you will witness the birth, growth, and remarkable achievements of the Federal government's pharmaceutical laboratories at Astoria, New York, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.Medicines for the Union Army will inform and enlighten you about the these laboratories, including: the funding and transportation obstacles faced at the Astoria lab the processes by which raw materials became drugs ready for distribution drug testing and inspection methods the bottling of “medicinal whiskey” and wine at the labs the people whose work laid the foundation for modern drug production and distribution methods the contents of the medical supply cases (panniers) and wagons in use at the time . . . and much more! Medicines for the Union Army: The United States Army Laboratories During the Civil War brings to light the groundbreaking achievements of unsung American heroes working to preserve life while the country was in bloody turmoil. No Civil War historian should be without this volume!