Revolutionary War Medicine Revealed

Back in the Revolutionary War, battlefield medicine was brutal—amputations with saws, no anesthesia, and doctors often just apprentices. Hygiene was known, but germ theory was nowhere near. Wild remedies like tobacco smoke enemas were common, and most kids died young from diseases like smallpox. Yet, those who survived childhood could live into their sixties. Surprisingly, more soldiers died from sickness than combat wounds. General Washington pioneered mass smallpox vaccinations, and without penicillin, treatment was basic: pull bullets, saw limbs, and pray. It’s a stark reminder of how far medicine has come—and how far we’ve come to protect our soldiers. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/b16751bde5b46aec