Passage 1 from The Boys' War by Jim Murphy
Most soldiers looked upon the doctor's work as useless mutilation
heaped on top of injury, and the fact that large numbers of the injured
would linger in agonizing pain for days only to die did not enhance the
reputation of the medical profession. One boy, obviously very angry.
wrote a blunt condemnation of what he was witnessing. I believe the
Doctors kills more than they cour. Doctors haint Got half Sence.
Unless absolutely necessary, most soldiers would stay as far away
from doctors as possible and treat themselves as best as they could.
Teas made from the bark of slippery elm willow, and dogwood trees
were favored remedies for anything from a cold to infected wounds.
Wounds were treated by daily cleaning and the removal of anything
foreign. (86, 88)
According to the author, what was most soldiers point of view
regarding how doctors treated wounds and injuries during the Civil
War?