A Wounded Lieutenant Asks Dr. Evins to Cut Off His Mangled Leg

[@michaeldouglas1243]

That was very good Ron 👍

[@johnvincent9685]

Thanks, as always, for sharing .

[@shirleybillmyer3947]

Thank you for your battle stories.

[@regretta1000]

Thank you!

[@stevewesley8187]

It's difficult to imagine the overwhelming chaos of a tragedy such as Gettysburg for all concerned ...........

[@sunnyjacksmack]

Great work as always. Thank you.

[@baird5776mullet]

I enjoy your videos, when will you do one on Nathan Forrest? Gen Lee said he was his best General and even Gen Grant agreed and his tactics are still used at West point

[@anglohero6295]

General Bedford Forrest is said to have told his surgeon to finish the amputation left by aUnion surgeon after fleeing .

[@davide9658]

Great story. Thanks Ron.

[@mattlevault5140]

Another great story! There are so many research rabbit holes to go down when looking at Civil War wounds and medical/surgical procedures of the era. The war introduced devastating new weapons to the battlefield and doctors had little or no knowledge of hygiene (germ theory was in its infancy). It was often a deadly combination...

[@oldgeezerproductions]

The 'germ theory' was indeed in its infancy. Louis Pasteur was not a medical doctor and his findings in microbiology did not achieved respect and wide acceptance within the medical community until after Gram had developed the famous "Gram Stain" in 1882 so that germs were actually visible (and thus proved to be real) in the "bright field" microscopes of the day. The Germ Theory was furthered bolstered by Robert Koch and his famous Postulates, that weren't published until the mid 1880s. (But remember, the Germ Theory is "JUST" a theory, you know, like gravity, electromagnetism, optics, evolution, etcetera, etcetera are "just" theories.) Indeed, doctors didn't even wash their hands between surgeries so that sepsis, including "Childbed Fever" (considered a normal part of a woman giving birth), was endemic. Surgical instruments were not sterilized or even wiped off between uses. For a surgeon to practice while wearing a blood-smeared and filthy apron, his hands up to his arms covered in gore, was a sign of a busy and experienced professional. It wasn't until 1865, soon after becoming familiar with Pasteur's work in microbiology (in contrast with the majority of medical doctors of the time), that Lister performed his first antiseptic surgery using carbolic acid as a disinfectant. It then took decades more for surgeons to routinely practice aseptic procedures. From what I've been told (by those who should know), most young, healthy and adequately fed persons can survive an amputation under these circumstances, even without modern antibiotics and under the unsanitary conditions of the time. BUT the amputation must occur before the devitalized and infected tissues of the wound can spread the infection to other parts of the body; that's why the amputation had to be in healthy tissue, as far above the wound as possible. One thing that surgeons did have in those days were abundant supplies of chloroform, high proof alcohol and opium so that "biting a bullet" during amputations is a myth. They had ether too, but it was far too flammable to use where indoor illumination was by oil lamps.

[@Chiller11]

As a retired surgeon I am fascinated by historical surgical practices.

[@danielcline7413]

Here in Colorado saguache to be precise home of the Colorado cannibal alfred packer the local museum has a complete civil war surgeon's kit one look at it and you would think he built cabinets not preform surgery lots of sawing prying hammering type tools and actually very few sharp instruments really a quite scary kit !

[@KevinCave-rj8eq]

Devastating story I have a question though what did the piping on their sleeves mean? Great work Ron

[@lifeonthecivilwarresearchtrail]

Great question! The piping is part of his rank. The star and his collar and thicker piping (three strands) and dark cuffs and collar indicates he is a major in the medical corps.

[@KevinCave-rj8eq]

@@lifeonthecivilwarresearchtrail thanks I always wondered what that meant 👍🍀🍀🍀

[@FinbarrAnderson]

He was a saint.

[@oldgeezerproductions]

I've been told (by those who should know), that most young, healthy and adequately fed persons can survive an amputation, even without modern antibiotics and even under the incredibly unsanitary conditions of the Civil War. Management of surgical and postoperative pain was surprisingly advanced for the time, even in the Confederacy.

[@Chiller11]

In a paper in the Baylor University Medical Center Proceedings the mortality rate in the Union Army of amputations over all was 26.3%. The mortality rate varied depending on the level of amputation and the time elapsed since the traumatic event.

[@oldgeezerproductions]

@@Chiller11 Thanks for the information, I wasn't aware that the survival rate was so high considering how long it took to get the wounded into surgery. I think it is safe to assume that, considering the horrific wounds that soft lead .58 to .69 caliber bullets produced and including ragged grape & shrapnel wounds, almost all of those other 73.7 percent of guys would have died horrible deaths from gangrene sepsis without amputation. Now that I think of it, years ago I remember reading about the rather large industry that arose to make artificial limbs and how advanced and effective those prosthetics were for the day. I also remember reading that the surgeons would do everything possible to save a limb if they could and not just chop off limbs gratuitously.

[@larsporsena7115]

Did he beg for the brigade surgeon because he feared the regimental surgeon?

[@francestaramctee6967]

Do you know if Dr. Evins was a USC alum? Great video!!!