Describes the state of medical knowledge and the practice of medicine, particularly by military medical personnel, during the Civil War.

Before Sumpter. Medical progress--|t Inflammation theories: Direct inflammation, Indirect inflammation; Inflammatory treatment: Bleeding, Purgatives, Cathartics, Diaphoretics, Narcotics, Counterirritants--|t An unsung hero--|t Hard lesson from Crimea (1854-1856) --|t That chaotic first year. The medical departments--|t Army doctors of varied abilities: The regulars, The doctor's apprentice, The irregulars--|t The regimental tradition--|t The United States Sanitary Commission--|t Reality at Bull Run --|t Rations. Packages from home--|t Camp sutlers --|t Clothing --|t Shelter --|t Cleanliness --|t Changing the old guard --|t The ambulance corps --|t A new divisional field hospital plan --|t Field hospital anesthesia --|t Field hospital surgery. Projectile wounds--|t Wounds with hemorrhage--|t Wounds of the head--|t Wounds of the chest--|t Wounds of the abdomen--|t Wounds of the extremities: The circular amputation, The flap amputation--|t Fractures --|t Hospital trains --|t Hospital ships --|t The army general hospital. Joint resection--|t Bone resection--|t Skull fracture excisions--|t Airborne pests--|t The duty roster --|t Army nursing. Female nurses--|t Home front honor roll--|t Male nurses --|t Disease concepts. Miasmatic diseases--|t Intermittent fevers--|t Continued fevers--|t Eruptive fevers--|t Non-miasmatic diseases--|t Non-classified diseases --|t Medical poisons. Irritant poisons--|t Narcotic poisons --|t Hammond vs. mercurial poisons --|t Medical supplies --|t The aftermath --|t And in conclusion --|t Sidelights.