How Did The Civil War Affect Health

The Civil War. Louis P. Masur’s book, The civil War: a Concise History, Is a book that gives an overview of the civil war from 18 to 1800, Providing multiple causes an consequences that emerged from the war. The book begins by reviewing the origins of the war. Chapter one covers the issues between northern and southern states and the tension over right and slave possession. The tension created a conflict that raised a number of political, social, and military events that then proceeded into a battle to abolish slavery from the colonies.

An unprecedented number of Soldiers from the North Union Army and South Confederate Army perished in the American Civil war. The number of war dead is estimated to have exceeded 618,000. The Battle of Stones River was known as the six costliest battle of the war due to the fact that only 74,000 Soldiers participated in this pertinent turning point of the war. The Battle of Stones River also known as the Second Battle of Murphysboro was responsible for the highest casualty rate on both sides with no decisive winner once the gun smoke lifted and the cannon fodder was cleared. The battle did put the first dash of doubt in the Confederate commander’s hearts, having them feel as if the control of the South and could be lost.

Drew Gilpin Faust, wrote the book This Republic of Suffering: Death and the American Civil War, this book was about the suffrage in the Civil War. Although more specifically the book goes in depth about the death of the ones who was in the war as well as the spiritual. Since this was back in the nineteenth century, they have not had the access to the medical technology that we do today. This then led to many deaths from “infections, disease in the camp, and that doctors did not have the knowledge to use clean instruments when treating a wound properly” (Faust 4). Though just from 1861 and 1865 it was estimated about 620,000 soldiers died in the Civil War, this is a time expand of approximately four years.

The rats had infested the trenches stealing food and carrying diseases that spread rapidly to the soldiers, some also grew as big as cats. Lice was also one of the main offenders, causing a disease called trench fever, this disease was particularly painful which began with severe pain followed up by high fever (this is stated in source 7). This disease took a very long time to recover; it could take up to 12 weeks away from the trenches. Men usually shaved their heads due to the lice. Trench foot was another disease it was a fungal infection generally caused by cold and wet feet.

Although sleep was a major problem for the confederate soldier's, disease and starvation also played a very major role in the conflicts prisoners faced. Some diseases that were common in prisoners were diarrhea, Typhoid fever, dysentery, scurvy, smallpox and itch. There was great malnutrition on soldiers. Majority of soldiers died due to lack of sanitation, food, and medical care.

The Battle of Gettysburg had a major impact on the Civil War. The 3-day battle in Gettysburg was very gruesome, and resulted in many casualties on both sides, all together having over 50,000 deaths (according to HistoryNet.com) in the battle. “Union casualties in the battle numbered 23,000, while the Confederates had lost some 28,000 men–more than a third of Lee’s army.” (History.com Staff). This shows, how the deaths of the Confederate Army, weakened not only their morale, but their defense.

Approximately 620,000 died during the Civil War while approximately 116,516 died in World War I and approximately 405,399 died in World War II.

“Trench life involved long periods of boredom mixed with brief periods of terror. The threat of death kept soldiers constantly on edge, while poor living conditions and a lack of sleep wore away at their health and stamina.” Rats and lice pestered the soldiers day and night; rats were often oversized, due to the food and waste of stationary armies, and would participate in the spreading of diseases throughout the trenches. In 1918, doctors concluded that lice was the cause of trench fever, which caused the soldiers headaches, fevers and muscle pain. The trenches were unhygienic.

Disease impacted the mobility and effectiveness of Union and Confederate armies. Medical personnel and others who encountered the military bands, such as contrabands and civilians, contracted some of these diseases also. Death followed military encampments but also led to changes in military practices and advanced medical knowledge of disease symptoms, treatment, and prevention. The diseases of typhus, scurvy, chronic diarrhea and/or dysentery, malaria and yellow fever impacted the effectiveness of both armies by cutting the number of soldiers available for battle. All involved fought despondency which was enhanced by malnutrition.

1.2 Trench Fever Another disease was Trench Fever. This disease killed many soldiers in WW1. It was easily passed between the soldiers. Recovering took many months.

The Civil War The Civil War was the deadliest war in American history with over 600000 American deaths reported. This war was fought to keep the Confederate States from leaving the Union. The Union won because they had a telegraph system and had more resources. The effect of the Union victory has had a large impact on society.

The Civil War was one of the most turning points for the nation. The Civil War tore apart the nation into two divisions and turned their backs on each others. The Civil War was a battle between the two sides of the nation, the North and the South. The ones that stood against slavery and equal rights. The other side was most of the slave owners who fought against equal rights and not allowing slavery.

They were given very little food, and the food they were given was usually rotten or infested with creatures like maggots. Water was a similar problem. It was just plain dirty. As a result of these horrific settings, most, if not all, POWs had an illness like dysentery, beriberi, pellagra, ulcers, pneumonia, or diphtheria. Even with these diseases, prisoners were expected to work, or they would receive half their already meager food rations for the day.

When one looks back in our history, we have always thought that everyone suffered after the Civil War. The Civil War after all was extremely destructive to anything and anyone involved. However, Robert Tracy McKenzie did not believe that everyone suffered a great deal. In fact, in his article, “Civil War and Socioeconomic Change in the Upper South: The Survival of Local Agricultural Elites in Tennessee, 1850-1870,” he discussed how the top five percent of the elite farmers were still prosperous. McKenzie’s article focuses on all three regions in Tennessee, but only a few select counties.

Their progressive view in the academic circles at once dominant position broadly speaking, the civil war was the deadliest conflict in American history. However, our traditional measure of the impact of War (casualties of war) is not sufficient to reflect the losses caused by the war. The first is the environmental disaster, which continues for a long time after the fighting subsides. Even say, never die. All wars bring disaster to the environment.