Debunking Seven Myths and Misconceptions About the American Civil War
Let’s separate facts from fiction.
The American Civil War was one of the most pivotal events in the country’s history that tore the nation apart and led to the loss of countless lives. The war has had a lasting impact on American society. Today we explore seven myths about this war that people frequently fall victim to.
1. All amputations during the war were done without anesthesia.
Hollywood may very well be the prime suspect for spreading this myth. Many popular movies set in the era of the Civil War depict fully conscious soldiers having their limbs amputated in medical tents. This is far from the truth. Doctors conducted over 80,000 surgeries in the Civil War, of which 95% were anesthetized.
Statistics show that just 254 of the many surgeries performed during this time were without anesthesia. Records of the war show that doctors were well aware of the need to put someone under anesthesia before operating. They had access to common anesthetics like chloroform and ether for the job.
Ether was preferred since it was quick to act on the patient and less likely to blow up. Doctors would even delay the surgeries if anesthesia were unavailable rather than subject…
