Two-thirds of military casualties during the American Civil War were caused by infectious diseases. Both armies kept excellent public health and sanitation records during the war, however, almost all Confederate records were destroyed during the burning of Richmond, VA. Diarrhea was so common amongst Union (and Confederate) troops that the expression for bravery, “have the guts”, came from soldier slang for being strong enough to stand the symptoms. At the start of the war, basic sanitation and hygiene were largely ignored by Union officers, reflected in the initially high levels of diarrhea and dysentery. During the later years of the conflict, the realization that sanitation improvements helped maintain force strength produced a dramatic drop in both diarrhea and dysentery amongst Union armies.
Bollet, A J. 1992. “An analysis of the medical problems of the Civil War.” Transactions of the American Clinical and Climatological Association 103:128-41.
Christopher Albon is a Ph.D. candidate specializing in armed conflict, public health, human security, and health diplomacy.
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{ 8 comments }
Sir
As an environmental health officer (we used to be called sanitarians) dedicated to the prevention of illness and injury I find these posts very intersting. Brings up something related to your last few posts.
As an officer in the US Public Health Service, I’ve sailed on USNS MERCY a couple of times, and in prior assignments have worked extensively with Navy Environmental and Preventive Medicine Units, some with the US Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine, and just a little with Army Veterinary Corps and Air Force bioenvironmental engineers. These folks have amazing training, experience, equipment, logistics, and other resources. It is truly astounding what they can do and where they can do it.
However, they are focused on their mission of preventing disease and non-battle injury. They reduce non-combat risks for war-fighters. A lot of this transfers to the health diplomacy missions, but there are gaps that are better filled by USPHS or NGOs.
An NEPMU might arrive with a couple of $500,000 portable gas-chromatograph/mass spectrometers, which is an incredibly useful, almost magical apparatus. They might bring an entomologist with malaria and dengue experience and some preventive medicine technicians who can apply pesticides. But they (and military medicine) sometimes have limited experience with sensitive populations like children and the elderly. There are not nearly as many USPHS officers, but we often bring cutural sensitivity and tribal experience from assignments on the reservations. NGOs often have extensive experience with a particular country, whereas we in uniform are often quite peripatetic. So the blended solution is the best one.
I agree TEJ that a mixed approach is best. The key at this stage is to start building the partnerships between government and NGOs that mutually benefit both sides. The Kearsarge was a great example. Operation Smile got a world class floating operating room and transportation infrastructure while the US Navy got a team of dedicated civilian surgeons and nurses.
history homework is so supid
ii think that was a serious time period…and that in the 1861 was not the greatest
I hate projects….
I find this very stupid of them…. OF coarse you fight better when your ill! And of coarse your more apt to BE ill, if your environment is dirty!
i meant”when you NOT ill”
I meant “If your NOT ill” Whoops
History DBQ’s are sooooooooo boring!!!!
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