CW Research Paper Since more people died from disease and infection than from wounds, new developments in the American Civil War were important and helped change the face of warfare for the better. The conditions and sanitation in the hospital tents were appalling. There were people moaning in agony on the floor and blood everywhere. Poor hygiene has led to disease and illness. Wounds wrapped in dirty bandages caused infections. Doctors didn't understand germs and didn't know how to treat them. Amputation was very popular. Surgeons cut off limbs and hoped the patient would not die from blood loss or other infections. The doctors had no antibiotics. They used anesthetics such as chloroform and alcohol. Inventions such as evacuation, ambulance and triage systems were important and saved many people. The Confederate Medical Department was formed and recruited doctors and nurses. They make rules to try to save lives. Doctors and nurses did not always have medical experience, but they shared new ideas and improved methods. Despite its barbaric and brutal reputation, medical care during the Civil War helped dawn a new era of modern medicine as it developed a better understanding of sanitation, infections, and disease, found new anesthetics and drugs, and created ambulances , evacuation and triage systems. People during the Civil War did not understand the importance of proper hygiene, so as a result, conditions in most medical field hospitals were shamefully filthy and led to disease and infection. Surgeons did not wash bloody tables and thought that washing their tools and instruments was not important after amputations. The small areas where many soldiers lived were a great breeding ground... middle of paper..."). From this information, doctors and nurses wrote medical procedure manuals as they learned, inventing protocols and calling for better In 1863, every Union doctor had to take an exam, do an apprenticeship, and receive a standard set of supplies that included a kit with all the tools needed to amputate and perform many medical tasks. In addition, every doctor received barrels for to conserve water for health purposes ("At Turning Point"). There was better medical care than ever seen before and eventually the treatment intended for soldiers was also used by the general population. medical care during the Civil War helped dawn a new era of modern medicine because they developed a better understanding of sanitation, infections and disease, found new anesthetics and drugs, and created ambulance systems, evacuation and triage.