Re(3): Waterloo day

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Re(3): Waterloo day
IP: 80.189.136.219
Posted on June 19, 2025 at 16:12:26 by vince moran

Yes me too
however in the space of about 38 years how things changed regards casualties care,thanks to probably the greatest female this country ever produce
see article:
At Waterloo (1815):

Primitive Medical Knowledge: The understanding of infection (germ theory) was virtually nonexistent. Wounds were often probed with unsterilized instruments or even fingers, leading to rampant sepsis. Amputations were common for severe limb injuries, but even then, a significant percentage of patients died from subsequent infection.
Lack of Organization and Sanitation: Battlefield medicine was chaotic. Wounded soldiers often lay on the field for days, exposed to the elements and scavengers, before being collected. Makeshift hospitals in churches, public buildings, or even streets were overcrowded, unhygienic, and lacked basic necessities like clean water, proper drainage, and adequate ventilation.
Limited Personnel and Training: There were far too few surgeons and medical staff to handle the massive number of casualties. Many were not highly trained, and their methods were often brutal by modern standards. Amputations were performed quickly, often without anaesthesia (though some officers might receive rum or brandy), and with little regard for patient comfort or long-term recovery.
Focus on Amputation: For shattered limbs, immediate amputation was the primary treatment, seen as the best chance of preventing a slower, more agonizing death from gangrene.
"Waterloo Teeth": A grim testament to the aftermath, the large number of young men killed at Waterloo led to their teeth being harvested and sold for dentures, which became known as "Waterloo teeth."
In the Crimean War (1853-1856) and Florence Nightingale's Influence:

Public Scrutiny and Media: The Crimean War was one of the first conflicts to be widely covered by war correspondents and photographers, bringing the horrific conditions of the military hospitals to public attention in Britain. This generated immense pressure for reform.
Florence Nightingale's Arrival and Reforms: When Florence Nightingale arrived at the Scutari hospital in 1854, she found appalling conditions: overcrowded wards, lack of sanitation, inadequate food, and rampant disease (more soldiers were dying from preventable diseases like cholera and typhus than from battle wounds).
Emphasis on Hygiene and Sanitation: Nightingale's key contribution was her insistence on fundamental hygiene and sanitation. She implemented proper cleaning protocols, organized kitchens to provide better food, ensured adequate ventilation, and introduced clean linens and washing facilities. She famously reduced the mortality rate at Scutari from a staggering 42% to 2% within months, primarily by improving these basic conditions.
Professionalization of Nursing: Nightingale championed the idea of trained, professional nurses, demonstrating their vital role in patient care. Her work laid the foundation for modern nursing practices and led to the establishment of the first secular nursing school.
Data-Driven Advocacy: Nightingale was also a pioneer in using statistics to demonstrate the impact of unsanitary conditions on mortality rates, effectively campaigning for systemic changes in military and civilian healthcare.
The contrast you observed highlights the profound shift from an era where battlefield casualties were largely left to fate with rudimentary care, to the beginning of modern medical and nursing practices driven by a greater understanding of hygiene, organization, and public accountability.
Vince

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