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Stevej38857 t1_j9h8war wrote

Anytime the subject of amputation comes up, I always think about the many men who lost limbs during the Civil War. I've always wondered if most of it was really necessary or if the surgeons were overwhelmed and made quick decisions. I know there was a problem with lead poisoning. But didn’t some survive torso wounds?

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fryedchiken t1_j9hx0ez wrote

The logic was basically : Even if you stop the bleeding, the survival chances are low, and other injured patients have had to wait longer for treatment and could die. And even if you were to save someone without amputation they have a high risk of infection risking it all be for nothing.

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sc00ba_steve t1_j9huiov wrote

Pretty sure the old cook county hospital (a nice hotel now) has some civil war ghosts haunting about

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