Introduction

The perspectives of surgeons, physicians, and nurses are richly documented in the history of American Civil War medicine, which highlights the heroism and brutality of battlefield operations and the challenges of caring for the wounded during wartime. Yet the experiences of injured soldiers during the conflict and in the years afterwards are less well-known. Life and Limb: The Toll of the American Civil War , a traveling exhibit from the National Library of Medicine, focuses on disabled veterans and their role as symbols of the fractured nation who remained a stark reminder of the costs of the conflict for long after the war.

Learn more about Galter's companion exhibit Skin, Bones, & Tissue: Amputations during the Civil War.

Credits

Developed and produced by the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, and curated by Manon Parry, PhD.