Many things surgeons did in the 1860's are looked upon today as barbaric to say the least.  However, some of the things done back then are still done or are being revisited today.  Each month I will endeavor to address one or more of these practices in this news letter to compare then and now.  Though, some of the practices done then are not (thank God) continued today.

     Diseases at that time were considered and defined as a collection of symptoms.  For instance, Inflammation was defined as redness, swelling, heat and pain.  Today we consider this to be signs of infection.  Back then the cause was believed to be an excessive collection of blood in the area and needed to be relieved.  Leeches were deemed especially handy in removing excessive blood accumulations in more constricted areas not readily available to lancing like the nose, ears, inside the mouth (like for tonsillitis), rectum and vagina to name but a few.  They were applied to relieve head aches by application to the temples; for GI problems to the upper abdomen, and for urinary trouble to the shaved area over the bladder.  Leeches would gorge themselves on approximately ½ ounce of blood before detaching.  Several applications were probably necessary to achieve the desired effect.  In inaccessible areas a silk ligature was tied around the leech and a finger of the practitioner before attachment and after the leech detached was withdrawn. 

     Since the 1980's leeches have been again used in the medical profession though now not for curing inflammation and diseases but for improving circulation in re-attached fingers, toes, ears, noses and other areas where microsurgical venous and arterial reconstruction were not successful. 

     One of my favorite examples of what we did back then is that then they had the "Cure" for a dead drunk:  "Hot coffee by mouth or rectum".  Today we start an IV and hang a "banana bag" (electrolytes and Vitamins).  I think the stimulant caffeine in hot coffee administered rectally would have had a profound effect in discouraging repeat offenders. 

     Now I'll leave you with a tasty treat, Wine Whey.  Take two thirds pint of good milk and dilute it with as much water as will make up a pint; take two glasses of sherry or any other good white wine and a dessert spoonful of sugar.  Place the milk and water in a deep pan upon the fire, and watching the moment when it boils, which is known by a scum rising along the edge of the pan, pour into it the wine and sugar; stir it assiduously while it boils, for 12-15 minutes; separate the curd by straining through a sieve or cloth.  This treat would be used in the treatment of Typhus fever and other diseases where vital energies are much enfeebled.

W. L. Walker (Doc)

Surgeon

8^th TN US

One of the most anticipated events of the year, the 145th anniversary reenactment of Chickamauga, held just 15 miles south of the original battlefield, turned out to be a huge success and was anything but disappointing. I myself, had been looking foward to this event for quite awhile and was anxious to see how much of a turnout it would bring.

While getting up early Saturday morning to make the 2 hour drive from Knoxville, the excitement and suspense leading up to this day had finally come to an end and it was now time to head for northern Georgia. On the way down from the Tennessee mountains, I could not help but imagine what it must have been like for the two armies to have marched such long distances and to arrive at a place where they would come to experience some of the heaviest fighting of the war. The sun rising in the east and the lingering fog in the distance certainly added to the mental images of soldiers from both the North and South colliding on the battlefield. Despite the difficulty to find the event, upon my arrival I was more than ready to immerse myself in a day where history would come alive. To participate in a reenactment as a spectator proved to be an unusual experience for me since I am often taking part as a reenactor. However, it helped to recall what made me fall in love with history as a little kid and I suppose some never grow out of playing soldier. With 3500 reenactors, the lines of tents were endless and the numerous sutlers and vendors only had me wishing I had a bigger bank account.
 
The first battle started around 1:00 PM and really was unlike any event I had ever been to. My first visual of the battlefield was watching around 50 Federal cavalry galloping towards the enemy with sabers clanking and their weapons at the ready. Very rarely does anyone get the opportunity to witness such a site and, minus the crowd to my left and right, I felt as if I had taken the proverbial time machine and stepped back 145 years. As the cannon roared with authority overlooking the field, the seemingly countless formations of infantry came to meet each other from both sides. After more than an hour of battle, each side regrouped and returned to their respective units, while I headed to various booths and encampments. Walking the grounds, a person could find everything related to the period ranging from reproduction uniforms to authentic wet-plate photography. And when finding things to buy grew old, you could talk to historic figures like Robert E. Lee or listen to Abraham Lincoln give his Gettysburg Address. Furthermore, if your appetite was getting the best of you, you could listen to live Civil War music while enjoying authentic foods and washing it all down with a bottle of sasparilla. Regardless of your age or your level of interest in history, there definitely was something for everyone.

There was a second battle at 3:00 PM, much like the earlier clash between the Yanks and Rebs, but the last engagement of the evening around 7:00 PM was without a doubt, the most visually stimulating of all the day's events. With the sun setting behind the mountains, the cannon on top of the hills opened fire and put on a show unlike any other. The tempestuous blasts emanating from their barrels and the pyrotechnics exploding in the air overloaded the senses with an eerie feeling of reality and yet, thankfully, fell short of the attrocities that come with war.

Overlooking the occasional farby impression, the great majority of reenactors brought to the table a unquestionable degree of authenticity and accuracy which helped give onlookers an experience they will unlikely forget. This meticulous dedication to portraying history hopefully inspired others to begin reenacting, but most importantly it showed with how much respect people view this period of America's past and the individuals who helped forge the future of the country we know today.