Treatments for Common Wounds
The most common types of wounds during the war were caused by gunshots, broken bones, and fractures. Although amputation was the most common treatment for these wounds, other remedies were also used for treating common injuries during the war. However, before the standards for army surgeons rose and medical schools required them to obtain more medical knowledge and pass a surgical exam, even the most common of wounds often resulted in death for soldiers.
It was most common for war surgeons to immediately perform amputations on soldiers, especially if the injury involved a fracture and the soldier was in a general hospital, where infections spread quickly. Surgeons during the American Revolution generally acknowledged their in ability to save patients with wounds involving the heart, aorta, cerebellum or medulla of the brain, or the cisterna chyli 1. Although surgeons could not save all soldiers, it was discovered that the bullet (or "ball") of a gunshot was not poisonous for the injured soldier, surgeons were urged not to remove the ball if it could not be easily removed. Many surgeons believed that the caustic dressings once popular for gun-shot wounds were no longer necessary 2. Not forcing the bullet in a wound to be removed from a soldier would help prevent further pain and injury upon the soldier, helping more, although it was few, soldiers live after the injury
For the treatment of broken bones, there were no modern pain relief medications or remedies available on the battlefield. John Jones, a surgeon and author of Plain Concise Practical Remarks on the Treatment of Wounds and Fractures, recorded his findings on how to treat broken bones, fractures, and other common wounds during the American Revolution. When treating broken bones, the limb was usually placed fully extended, and it was common for surgeons to move the bone themselves until the two sides of the break were realigned. Then, the surgeon would set the bone and apply a splint with tape to secure it in place. The process of treating broken bones was painful, as extending the limb caused severe discomfort and often led to swelling and inflammation.“The position which the patient always endeavors to place himself in, under these circumstances, will clearly paint out the true state of his case, as well as the most rational mode of relief”3. For a broken knee, the soldier would typically roll onto his injured side and pull his knee to his chest. For a broken tibia, the soldier would bend the elbow and rest it on the side of the body, supported by a sling. Allowing soldiers to assume a more comfortable position during treatment helped reduce inflammation and swelling.
An important factor of treatments for common wounds during the war was the application of remedies believed to help in healing injuries. “A variety of compositions; conflicting of adhesive plasters, cerecloths, the white of an egg with vinegar, or thin compresses dipped in Spirit Vin Camphor, have been used for this purpose” 4, Jones states. Some of these remedies were recorded as helpful towards wounds, while others caused increased inflammation and irritation, such as the adhesive plaster. During the healing process, fungus occasionally grew in the holes of fractures. Remedies at the time included prepared sponge, cut into slices and laid immediately on the fungus. Typically, the next stage after applying remedies was to apply a splint to support the broken or fractured bones, which were generally made of wood, or baseboard, but too short that they could only act as a compress. The primary purpose of splints was to preserve the broken bone and prevent further damage. Poultices, mixtures of flour, bread, or milk, were often applied to areas of inflammation to reduce soreness. Although the remedies used during the American Revolution are far removed from modern medical practices, they played an important role in the evolution of medical treatment. Surgeons made crucial observations and recordings of their medical findings that would influence the development of more effective treatments in future history.
1Gillett, Mary C. The Army Medical Department, 1775-1818. Center of Military History, United States Army. Center of Military History, 1981.
2 Gillet, Mary C. The Army Medical Department, 1775-1818, 1981.
3 Jones, John Plain and Concise Remarks On the Treatment of Wounds And Fractures To Which is Added, A Short Appendix on Camp and Military Hospitals. New York, Kessinger Publishing, 1776.
4 Jones, John Plain and Concise Remarks On the Treatment of Wounds And Fractures To Which is Added, A Short Appendix on Camp and Military Hospitals. 1776.