Gordon E. Dammann

The book was well -written and informative. While it did not bring to light much that is new to the discourse regarding Civil War medicine, it was well-researched and engaging. My biggest problem with the book is the reproduction of the photographic images. It is ironic that the book focuses on Civil War medical imagery and then the publishers choose the cheapest, least adaptive paper for the reproduction of drawings and photographs. Mr. Dammann was done a disservice. The pictures were so show more mottled and blurred because of the paper stock chosen for the book, that they were useless as companion pieces to the narrative. show less

90% Civil War Portraits, 10% Medical Photography

(Full disclosure: I received a free copy of this book for review through Library Thing’s Early Reviewer program.)

Though IMAGES OF CIVIL WAR MEDICINE: A PHOTOGRAPHIC HISTORY sounds as though it should be packed with images of, well, Civil War medicine, it’s surprisingly light on photographs of medical procedures, instruments, disorders, and injuries. Instead, a majority of the photos are of people (soldiers, doctors, nurses, and other show more medical personnel) and places (make-shift hospitals, encampments, and battlefields), resulting in a less gruesome – and interesting – volume than the title would lead you to expect.

In IMAGES OF CIVIL WAR MEDICINE, authors and Civil War buffs Gordon Dammann and Alfred Jay Bollett give a brief overview of the state of medicine during the American Civil War. The written word takes a backseat to the myriad Civil War-era photos, particularly of medical staff and volunteers. Indeed, those interested in the history of photography, and Civil War photography in particular, will mostly likely find this to be an invaluable resource.

However, I am neither. I had hoped to learn more about this history of specific medical procedures, but was disappointed to find that a majority of the photos do not involve the actual practice of medicine, but rather are of medical practitioners. In fact, only one chapter (“Wounds and Diseases”) deals with Civil War medicine – and it’s the last chapter, at that! The other seven chapters leading up to “Wounds and Diseases” mostly deal with people and places – medical educators, nurses and volunteers, the US Sanitary Commission, dentists, morticians, ambulances, field hospitals, etc. While I found the topics somewhat interesting, the coverage was superficial. In particular, I thought the chapter on nursing was fascinating, but the subject was only given passing attention. This is understandable for a book that deals primarily with images; however, since I wasn’t impressed with the variety of photos, I found myself relying on the text more than I might otherwise.

Overall, I give IMAGES OF CIVIL WAR MEDICINE three stars. The volume contains an impressive number of Civil War photos, as promised; unfortunately, the variety of subjects in these photographs is lacking.

http://www.easyvegan.info/2008/01/03/images-of-civil-war-medicine-by-gordon-damm... show less

“Images of Civil War Medicine” provides a general overview of the US Civil War era of medical history. This book would be best appreciated by those who want a basic introduction to US Civil War medicine or those who are interested in the development of photography in that era. Those who want in-depth information should look elsewhere.

I found the photographs to be rather disappointing - too many portrait-style photos and not enough medical images to suit my interests. Also, I was show more expecting more information about the developments in medicine and surgery during this era.

Overall, “Images of Civil War Medicine” was interesting and I’m glad I read it, but I preferred “Gangrene and Glory" for the subject area of US Civil War medicine. show less

Who was the first medical officer who died during the Civil War? Who were medical cadets and what role did they play in war? What was the origin of the phrase "4F"? Who was Ms. Dorothea Dix? The answers to these questions and so many more are waiting for you behind the pages of "Images of Civil War Medicine: A Photographic History".

This book, written for the layperson, provides a good overview over some of the more important aspects of medical history in the Civil War. This book provides a show more brief history of early photography and how it relates to improvements of medical imaging leading up to the Civil War.
There was also a history of mobile field hospitals, the ambulance system for moving wounded soldiers, and discussed the role of civilian doctors and dentists during the time of war. The role of female nurses and their role providing medical care during the Civil War, a subject that appears to be rarely discussed in history, was given its own chapter and stands out as one of the most informative and interesting chapters in the book.

Like many books, in certain areas the book could have used more editing to make the sentences flow more smoothly and to implement a wider variety of sentence structure. Also, there were a few grammatical mistakes that are easy to notice. However, since this review is based on an advance reader’s copy, these issues might be resolved in the final version.

For those of who are expecting graphic images of medical practice, such as during surgery, images of wounded, etc, there were only a few such images and only in the final chapter. The majority of the images in this book were simply photographs of medical practitioners, such as Civil War nurses and surgeons, as well as exterior photos of hospitals making it more acceptable for those with queasy stomachs.

This book is best suited for those who would prefer an overview of this area or a quick reference to Civil War medicine, such as students of history, medical history, history of science, etc. Civil War re-enactors may also enjoy this for the never before published photos although they may prefer a book that provided more in-depth information.

If you are considering reading this book, you may also be interested in the "American Heritage Picture History of the Civil War." show less