Apr 12, 1861 – May 9, 1865

Prior to the Civil War, April 12, 1861 to May 9, 1865, medicine was still in the Heroic Medical Era or “Age of Heroic Medicine”. Practices during this era included bloodletting, purging and sweating. Illness was thought to have been caused by an imbalance of one’s humors. Very little was understood or even known about infection and germs. The Civil War marked the ending of the Age of Heroic Medicine and brought on a new era of medical advancements. As a result, professionalism, new systems and medical techniques were all introduced. Becoming a doctor required a longer education. The Ambulance Corps was created by one of the most influential men in the medical field, Jonathan Letterman. Medical amputation was introduced. The Civil War was an era of many new medical discoveries and advancements that have all contributed to the high standards of medical care and medicine used today.