Behind the Battles: Causes of Disease
When studying Civil War history, attention is often given to battles, generals and the politics of the war. Beneath all of these matters was something much different. Diseases of all forms doomed soldiers of both the North and the South. Disease claimed the lives of more soldiers than any combat deaths, wounds, injuries or burns. It is referred to as the “natural biological warfare,” and it spread rapidly throughout soldier camps, barracks, and hospitals. Disease became the quiet enemy of both sections. Microorganisms, which caused disease, were invisible, versatile, and quick. This allowed them to thrive in any place susceptible to them. Common diseases during the Civil War included measles, mumps, small pox, malaria, pneumonia, camp itch and intestinal complications such as diarrhea and dysentery. Not only did thousands of soldiers die from diseases, but thousands also became useless from disabilities which led to medical discharges. The......
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Approximate Word Count: 3239
Approximate Pages: 13 (260 words per double-spaced page) |