Images Of Civil War Medicine: A Photographic History

by Dr. Gordon Damman DDS, Alfred Jay Bollet

Dr. Alfred Bollet’s Civil War Medicine: Challenges and Triumphs won wide acclaim as an expert study. Now, in collaboration with Dr. Gordon Dammann, Dr. Bollet has taken his expertise one step further and pictorially illuminated this fascinating chapter in medical history. Featuring 250 rare archival photographs, Images of Civil War Medicine is a comprehensive visual encyclopedia of medical care during a seminal event in American history. The book showcases the uniforms, equipment, and members of a large group of individual Civil War doctors — “Cartes de Visites” — along with resonant images of existing pre-war structures used to heal the sick. Also here are prominent medical educators, hospitals, stewards, and ambulances,as well as images of surgery, dentistry, nursing, and embalming. Ideal for Civil War buffs, historians, and medical history enthusiasts, Images of Civil War Medicine gives a complete overview of this era's medical realities.

Genres: History, American Civil War, Civil War

204 pages, Paperback

First published November 28, 2007

Reviews

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

With this work, Gordon Dammann, DDS, and Alfred Jay Bollet, MD, have put together an interesting and useful addition to the literature on the practice of military medicine during the American Civil War. The two authors bring excellent credentials to such an endeavor as, in addition to their professional medical qualifications, both have previously written on medical subjects related to the Civil War. Dammann’s earlier work, “Pictorial Encyclopedia of Civil War Medical Instruments and Equipment,” is an established reference source in the field with its images of original medical instruments and equipment. Anyone interested in the practice of military medicine during the American Civil War will want to look at this work as a useful addition to his or her library.

Once again using images from Dammann’s own collection as well as individual items from other collections, the authors present period images of surgeons, patients, nurses, hospitals, etc., supported by textual descriptions providing background and context. There is also a preliminary discussion of the history of photography in the years before and during the war that explains the different daguerreotypes, tintypes, etc. that are presented. The book is organized topically, so that each chapter of text and images stands on its own. The reader can read the book all the way through or just dip in it any point to read a page or two or a whole chapter and benefit from the effort.

The review copy did show a few production errors as well as a couple of those mysteries that often challenge the historian. Presented early in the book is an image identified as Surgeon William Hayes and his niece, with the statement that he served in the 28th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry (a regiment raised principally from the Irish of Boston and eastern Massachusetts to be a part of the famous Irish Brigade). However, no Surgeon Hayes appears in either of the two Massachusetts’ Adjutant General reports on the 28th MVI that I have been able to consult. There is also a photograph of Slough Hospital, in Alexandria, Virginia, accompanied by the statement that the authors had no information about the hospital beyond that it existed at least during 1864 and 1865. Fortunately, in 1998 the locally circulated Historic Alexandria Quarterly (http://oha.alexandriava.gov/oha-main/...) featured a two part article by Edward A Miller, Jr., in which he described the Slough Hospital. Miller reported that Slough Barracks General Hospital opened in May 1864 located along Duke Street, closing in January 1866.

As suggested, such mysteries can be numbered alongside the production errors often found in a review copy and which I expect will be corrected in the published version. As would be expected in a work not really aimed at a strictly academic audience, there is no bibliography. However, endnotes are included in each chapter, providing both the identification of the authors’ sources as well as guidance for the reader wishing to do further research.

[Melvin Marsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, written for the layperson, provides a good overview over some of the more important aspects of medical history in the Civil War. This book provides a brief history of early photography and how it relates to improvements of medical imaging leading up to the Civil War.
There was also a history of mobile field hospitals, the ambulance system for moving wounded soldiers, and discussed the role of civilian doctors and dentists during the time of war. The role of female nurses and their role providing medical care during the Civil War, a subject that appears to be rarely discussed in history, was given its own chapter and stands out as one of the most informative and interesting chapters in the book.

Like many books, in certain areas the book could have used more editing to make the sentences flow more smoothly and to implement a wider variety of sentence structure. Also, there were a few grammatical mistakes that are easy to notice. However, since this review is based on an advance reader’s copy, these issues might be resolved in the final version.

For those of who are expecting graphic images of medical practice, such as during surgery, images of wounded, etc, there were only a few such images and only in the final chapter. The majority of the images in this book were simply photographs of medical practitioners, such as Civil War nurses and surgeons, as well as exterior photos of hospitals making it more acceptable for those with queasy stomachs.

[Rob Weir · Rating 4 out of 5]

My great great grandfather served in the Massachusetts 32nd Infantry and died in a Union field hospital in Alexandria, Virginia. Like most Civil War casualties, he died of disease, not of gunshot. So it was with great interest that I read Dammann's photographic history of Civil War medicine.

Although I did not find a photograph of the specific hospital or attending surgeon that worked on my ancestor -- a long shot hope I had entertained -- I did find much here that brought to light this aspect of the Civil War and gave me a better appreciation for life and death in the field hospitals.

"Images of Civil War Medicine" is an important reference for family historians with ancestors killed or injured in the Civil War.

[mad mags · Rating 3 out of 5]

90% Civil War Portraits, 10% Medical Photography

(Full disclosure: I received a free copy of this book for review through Library Thing’s Early Reviewer program.)

Though IMAGES OF CIVIL WAR MEDICINE: A PHOTOGRAPHIC HISTORY sounds as though it should be packed with images of, well, Civil War medicine, it’s surprisingly light on photographs of medical procedures, instruments, disorders, and injuries. Instead, a majority of the photos are of people (soldiers, doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel) and places (make-shift hospitals, encampments, and battlefields), resulting in a less gruesome – and interesting – volume than the title would lead you to expect.

In IMAGES OF CIVIL WAR MEDICINE, authors and Civil War buffs Gordon Dammann and Alfred Jay Bollett give a brief overview of the state of medicine during the American Civil War. The written word takes a backseat to the myriad Civil War-era photos, particularly of medical staff and volunteers. Indeed, those interested in the history of photography, and Civil War photography in particular, will mostly likely find this to be an invaluable resource.

However, I am neither. I had hoped to learn more about this history of specific medical procedures, but was disappointed to find that a majority of the photos do not involve the actual practice of medicine, but rather are of medical practitioners. In fact, only one chapter (“Wounds and Diseases”) deals with Civil War medicine – and it’s the last chapter, at that! The other seven chapters leading up to “Wounds and Diseases” mostly deal with people and places – medical educators, nurses and volunteers, the US Sanitary Commission, dentists, morticians, ambulances, field hospitals, etc. While I found the topics somewhat interesting, the coverage was superficial. In particular, I thought the chapter on nursing was fascinating, but the subject was only given passing attention. This is understandable for a book that deals primarily with images; however, since I wasn’t impressed with the variety of photos, I found myself relying on the text more than I might otherwise.

Overall, I give IMAGES OF CIVIL WAR MEDICINE three stars. The volume contains an impressive number of Civil War photos, as promised; unfortunately, the variety of subjects in these photographs is lacking.

http://www.easyvegan.info/2008/01/03/...

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, Images of Civil War Medicine, is an interesting read with many amazing photos of civil war nurses, doctors, facilities, and more. The photos are by far the best part of the book and really bring to life what civil war era medicine was like.

The book itself is easy to read and understand. It tends to read like an encyclopedia or textbook would, but less boring. The book provides a brief overview of the many topics that are encompassed under the heading of "civil war medicine." If you are looking for an indepth read on this subject, then this may not be the book for you.

I loved the section on the women's contribution to the civil war via the medical route and the pictures were great. Honestly, I cannot say enough about the photos in this book. They are unique and interesting and you are really able to see what it was like way back then. I would have loved to read more about the nurses but the section was a good introduction to the subject and provided me with some new information.

This is a great little collection of photographs and information on everything dealing with civil war medicine. It is not an indepth study, nor does it claim to be one, but it gives a great overview of the main features and aspectes of medicine during that time period and what it was like for those involved.

I think anyone interested in this subject, or the civil war in general, should take a look at this book, if only to see the photos.