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During the Revolutionary War, soldiers faced a variety of injuries and illnesses, many of which were worsened by unsanitary conditions, lack of medical knowledge, and limited medical supplies. Here are some of the most common:

1. Battle-Related Injuries

•Gunshot Wounds Musket balls caused deep, severe wounds that often shattered bones.

•Bayonet Stabs Close-combat fighting with bayonets led to deep puncture wounds.

•Sword & Sabre Cuts Officers and cavalry used swords, causing deep lacerations.

•Cannonball Injuries Blasts from artillery could result in traumatic amputations and severe burns.

•Blunt Force Trauma Soldiers were often injured by falling debris, rifle butts, or being trampled.

2. Infections & Disease

• Sepsis & Gangrene - Wounds easily became infected due to poor hygiene, leading to gangrene and the need for amputations.

•Dysentery- Caused by contaminated water, this disease led to severe diarrhea, dehydration, and death.

•Smallpox- A deadly viral infection that spread rapidly in army camps, leading to the first large-scale military inoculation efforts.

•Typhus & Typhoid Fever Spread by lice and contaminated food, causing fever, rashes, and weakness.

•Malaria, Common in warmer climates, transmitted by mosquitoes. Soldiers often suffered from chills, fever, and exhaustion.

•Trench Foot & Frostbite Soldiers exposed to wet, cold conditions for long periods developed painful foot infections, sometimes requiring amputation.

3. Psychological & Long-Term Effects

•Many soldiers experienced trauma from battle, which we now recognize as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

•Chronic Pain & Disabilities â€“ Survivors of amputations or severe injuries often faced life-long disabilities.

4. Poor Living Conditions Leading to Illness

•A lack of fresh fruits and vegetables led to vitamin deficiencies, causing weakness, swollen gums, and tooth loss.

•Lice & Fleas Infested soldiers, spreading disease and making daily life miserable.

•Contaminated Drinking Water

•Poor sanitation led to widespread illness from bacteria in drinking sources.

Many of these injuries and conditions had high mortality rates due to the lack of antibiotics, poor sanitation, and limited medical care. Revolutionary War doctors did their best, but treatment often meant amputation, herbal remedies, or survival based on luck rather than medical science.

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They would perform surgeries without anesthsia, which really hurts. They did not have medicine to kill the bacteria. They didn't have right stuff to fix some broken bones so they would amputate the limb.

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How medical procedures were done in the revolutionary war

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chamomile, mint, licorice, yarrow, sage, horsetail, and wild plants such as black cohosh, white snakeroot, and sarsaparilla

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Bathing was infrequent during the American Revolutionary War, and people often only washed their faces and hands.