Field Surgery 

Our medical impression is an important part of our field presence. Under the direction of Surgeon Arthur Mapledoram (who has ancestors who served in the original 56th), a variety of scenarios graphically demonstrate how wounded soldiers were cared for during and after the battle. Capt. Mapledoram, through his study of period medical practices, brings spectators (and fellow living historians) as close as they can come to witnessing the horrors of the battlefield.

Surgeon Mapledoram giving a presentation on Civil War medicine.

A door taken from a nearby house and some hay bales serve as Surgeon Mapledoram's operating table.

                 Asst. Surgeon Lt. Martin Redcay         Hospital Steward Mark Kahn

Erin Atkins "building" a wound. Erin is using the same moulage, or makeup techniques as Hollywood movie professionals.  (See the results below)

This gunshot wound likely will cost the unfortunate soldier his leg below the knee.

Assistant Surgeon Redcay, center, probing for a bullet.

Assistant Surgeon Redcay extracting a bullet.

Cures for Diarrhea,Camp itch, and Lust

Besides being well-versed in surgical techniques, regimental surgeons also had to be pharmacists. Regiments often had more than one surgeon, and in addition to military personnel, civilian doctors often were hired under contract. 

Surgeons had their own favorite cures for a variety of ailments, and it was the job of the regimental hospital steward to be familiar with the course of treatment each surgeon was likely to order. To do this, stewards often compiled prescription formularies such as the one shown here, used by the steward for the 2nd N.Y. Heavy Artillery. Thus, if Dr. Smith ordered a gonorrhea cure to be administered, the steward would look up that doctor's "recipe." And if Dr. Jones prescribed the same treatment, a list of the ingredients would already be on hand, and treatment would be expedited. 

Cures for gonorrhea and diarrhea

Chloroform, diarrhea pills, hair restorative, cough mixture

Cures for "camp itch" and piles, morphine solution, gonorrhea mixtures

I don't know about you, but I'm glad I'm living now, not then

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