Medical Myths & Misconceptions of the American Civil War

by Julian Kuz, MD and Bradley Bengtson, MD.

War, considered one of the greatest causes of human suffering, inevitably brings rise to some of the greatest advances in medical treatments. The American Civil War is usually written from the perspective of great battles and generals. The medical aspects of the war are frequently unknown or misunderstood. These misunderstandings persist even today.

The Civil War was a catalyst for the development of trauma management, including general wound management, amputation techniques, triage and transportation of wounded soldiers. The war, by necessity, accelerated surgical knowledge and treatment of gunshot wounds of the extremities more than any previous event. The war also served as the impetus for the eventual specialization of surgical skills, hospital systems, and medical data collection.

The Civil War played an especially important role in the development of orthopaedic surgery. This specialization deals with injuries to the skeletal system and associated muscles and ligaments. At the time of the war it was not a recognized specialty in the United States.

While many dramatic discoveries in medicine in general, and specifically, in the area of orthopaedic surgery were not to be uncovered until the twentieth century, many of the basic orthopaedic procedures and techniques were developed during the Civil War and continue to be used today.

Hopefully, by a greater accounting of medicine practiced during the war, misconceptions can be dispelled. Some of these medical myths and historical inaccuracies can finally be put to rest!

Julian E. Kuz, M.D.

About the Author Julian E. Kuz, M.D.

Julian E. Kuz, M.D. is a native of Minnesota and received both his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Minnesota. He completed his orthopedic surgery residency at the Grand Rapids Orthopedic Surgery program and his subspecialty training in hand surgery and microsurgery at the University of Minnesota.

While at the University of Minnesota, he identified a number of archived historical materials regarding American Civil War medicine and developed an interest in the field. He subsequently co-authored two books on Civil War surgery. He resides in Grand Rapids, Michigan with his wife, Cheryl, and their three children. He practices at Orthopaedic Associates of Michigan and has extensive experience with upper extremity trauma, upper extremity posttraumatic reconstruction, and has published a number of scientific papers and a book chapter.

“Medical Myths & Misconceptions of the American Civil War” Thursday, April 11, 2013, 7 pm Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum by Julian Kuz, MD and Bradley Bengtson, MD. presented by Dr. Kuz, co-sponsored by Grand Rapids Civil War Round Table.