Ohio History Journal

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OHIO MEDICAL HISTORY, 1835-1858

OHIO MEDICAL HISTORY, 1835-1858

FURTHER ASPECTS

 

CONTRIBUTION OF OHIO PHYSICIANS TO THE

MEXICAN WAR

 

By LEON GOLDMAN, M.D.

 

One of the wars least interesting to, and least popular with,

the people of the United States was, of course, the Mexican War

of 1846. Yet this war should be of some interest to the physician,

for it was at this time that, in spite of great difficulties, definite

advances were made by medical officers in the army. Their con-

duct in the field went far to remove the prejudices which they

hitherto had to contend with in the army.

That tough Surgeon-General, Thomas Lawson, and 132 med-

ical men cared for some 100,454 soldiers. There was the usual

serious lack of equipment, the usual failure of preparation and

the inadequacy of transportation.  Consequently, deaths from

sickness were listed as 10,986, more than twice the total of battle

casualties, dead and wounded.

In spite of the country's disinterest, volunteers unencumbered

by supplies or unaided by transportation poured in on General

Zachary Taylor. There were 48 medical officers of the volun-

teers. Ohio first, generously gave three, then increased to five,

the number of volunteer regiments. There were 10 Ohio volun-

teer surgeons and assistant surgeons to serve as medical officers

for these regiments. There were many independent companies of

Ohio volunteers which had, apparently, none of their own medical

officers.

Organized medicine in Ohio reflected the popular disinterest

of the country at large in the Mexican War. In the Proceedings

(259)