11. Most surgeries and amputations were performed without anesthesia
The Hollywood image of an unfortunate being held down by strong men, while biting a piece of wood, or leather, or a bullet while a limb is sawn off is almost wholly inaccurate. By the time of the Civil War, doctors and surgeons were well aware of the use of anesthesia. Both ether and chloroform were used, though the latter was the preferred method. Ether presented the threat of explosion in enclosed areas lighted by oil lamps or candles. Chloroform also required a smaller amount to be administered, and its effects lasted longer. The strong men to hold down the patient were necessary, however. Under chloroform, patients often thrashed about spasmodically. They needed to be restrained in order for the surgeon to perform his work. Over 90% of all amputations performed during the war were accomplished with the patient under anesthesia.
Confederate General Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson suffered wounds to his left arm during the Battle of Chancellorsville. A victim of “friendly fire”, Jackson was transported by wagon over rough roads to a surgeon. Jackson was under anesthesia (chloroform) for about an hour as the surgeon amputated his left arm. The amputation was healing well when Jackson developed pneumonia and died a week following the surgery. Union General Daniel Sickles had his leg amputated after the bone was shattered during the Battle of Gettysburg. After recovering, he had the leg sent to the Army Medical Museum in Washington. Today the Museum is known as the National Museum of Health and Medicine, part of the Smithsonian Institution. Sickles’ leg is still there on display. The rest of him is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.