It is challenging to deny the fact that the Civil War had a significant impact on the American nation and medicine. Lan mentions that the initial outcomes were adverse, and they resulted in many deaths. Thousands of people died because of poor medicine quality and the inability of health care providers to cope with various wounds and infections. That is why I agree with Lan, who states that the Civil War gave rise to the development of American medicine.
During the beginning of hostilities, hospitals and ambulances were almost nonexistent (The Civil War, efficiency, and the sanitary impulse, 1845-1870, 2001). Here, Lan emphasizes that the tragic event under consideration implied positive results because it created medical establishments. Furthermore, the Sanitary reform also was significant because it contributed to the fact that Americans started drawing more attention to their living conditions and the quality of medical service.
At the same time, Nicole also describes some positive outcomes that the Civil War created. Firstly, she explains that the war resulted in the reconstruction of the health care industry. That change “would set an example for sanitation and public hygiene” (The Civil War, efficiency, and the sanitary impulse, 1845-1870, 2001, p. 191). Secondly, I agree with Nicole’s statement that the war and its consequences allowed people to understand germs, viruses, and bacteria.
This fact would make it possible to prevent various diseases. Finally, one feels it challenging to deny Nicole’s idea that the Civil War made the health care industry open for women. Thousands of nurses did their best to take care of injured individuals. Thus, the students’ discussions above prove that the Civil War, one of the most tragic events in American history, had some positive effects on the medicine of the nation.
Reference
The Civil War, efficiency, and the sanitary impulse, 1845-1870. (2001). In J. H. Warner & J. A. Tighe (Eds.), Major problems in the history of American medicine and public health: Documents and essays (pp. 159-195). Houghton Mifflin.