By Courtney Berge
Reese Library is currently hosting a traveling exhibit on loan from the National Library of Medicine. On display on the 2nd floor of the library, Life and Limb: The Toll of the American Civil War explores the experiences of injured soldiers during the Civil War and in the years following the war.
The American Civil War is often touted at the country’s bloodiest war with approximately 620,000 soldiers dying between 1861 and 1865. Disease was the greatest killer with poor sanitation and lack of understanding about bacteria leading to widespread illness; germ theory would not be introduced until 1870. Around two-thirds of the deaths from the war were due to illness.
Beyond disease, many soldiers faced injury from the battlefield. With developments in weaponry and military tactics, the American Civil War saw soldiers with devastating injuries caused by bullets, artillery shrapnel, sabers, and bayonets. Often these weapons would lead to injuries with splintered bones and damaged muscles, and military surgeons would amputate the limbs of the soldiers to treat them. Three-fourths of all military operations during the war were amputations. Those that did not have amputations still faced threats of infection.
Life and Limb discusses the trials of soldiers on the battlefield, as well as their experiences after the war. Disabled from their service, veterans faced many challenges in returning to their civilian lives. Be sure to visit the exhibit at the Reese Library to learn more about their experiences. The exhibit will be on display through December 22nd.
