Medical Technology Advances

A detailed Summary of Medical Technology Advances

"First the surgeon would cut off the blood flow with a tourniquet. After that he would take a scalpel and slice through the outlying tissue and flesh. Then he would use a hacksaw-like tool called a capital saw to saw through the bone. It had replaceable blades. After the bone and flesh was all sliced off, the surgeon would take silk sutures in the North, and cotton sutures in the South, and sew the major arteries and veins together. The limb would be dropped on a pile that was higher up then the table and the pile got thrown out after the day. Time was of the essence, so the soldier would be carried off of the platform and another soldier would be placed on the platform. This would take about fifteen minutes."(Amputations)

It wasn't much different to be killed in World War II then it was during the Civil War or World War I. However, if the World War II GI was wounded by a bullet, shrapnel or taken down to disease such as malaria, or anything else that did not kill him, his chances for survival were much greater then his ancestor in the Civil War. During the Civil War, 50 percent or more of the men admitted to hospitals died, during World War I, it was 8 percent, World War II, 4 percent. (Encarta)

" A boy gets hurt on the line. Within a minute or less a telephone message is sent back to our forward Aid Station, a distance of 300 to l000 yards from the front where a Sgt. and 4 litter-bearers are always on hand...During this time, the Company in which the casualty is a member, has their Aid-man administering first-aid on the spot...bandaging...stop bleeding... By that time, another litter team is there and carries the casualty to the nearest point where a jeep can travel... depending on conditions. The injured boy is then rushed to the Aid Station, one to three miles behind the line. Here the physician removes the first-aid bandage, makes a proper diagnosis and applies a more permanent bandage, administers blood plasma if needed, and in severe cases, gives morphine; makes the patient comfortable, warm, gives coffee, etc. Whereupon he's rushed back to a point known as Clearing Company, pretty far in the rear... Now--here, if the wound requires it, he's given emergency operation !

The next huge advancement in medical treatment in war was the discovery of penicillin. Penicillin unfortunately was not around in the Civil War, or even World War I. Luckily, it was discovered in time for World War II.(History of Pennicillin)

Doctors only attended 3 semesters of 13 weeks of medical school. Medical schools were all over during the Civil War period. Most of these were just diploma factories, providing very little real training. As there was no medical licensing board at this time, these diploma factories were tolerated. The good medical schools were at the established colleges. These lacks of training caused many problems during the war do to ignorance and laziness. (Beller 137).

Third, in the first wars of American History in all areas of military training was short and incomplete. In some occasions they had little to no training. This caused many deaths and lots of confusion out in battle.

with numerous bacteria for example, staphylococci, hemolytic streptococcus, gangrene, and other disease-producing bacteria. These bacteria would cause diseases that would have horrible effects on the people they infect, from painful headache and fever, to paralysis and degeneration of internal organs, to agonizing death. Weeks later that soldier will be in a far worst position that he was before he saw the doctor for his amputation. (Caring for Men)

Farther down the road, during the time of World War II the training and knowledge of a medic was astonishing.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Civil War, War II, Aid Station, Technology Advances, Army North, Alexander Fleming, Ambulance Plan, Encarta Throughout, World War, Clearing Company, world war, civil war, world war ii, war ii, war world war, medical technology, war world, medics civil war, diploma factories, assistant surgeons, saved lives, casualty rates, civil war world, development penicillin,

Approximate Word count = 1671
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: History