Civil war and reconstruction (1861-1877)
During the Civil War (1861-1865) 620,000 soldiers were killed and over two- thirds of those deaths were from infection or disease. Most soldiers were infected with disease while marching from one place to the next; others infected when they entered recovery tents. It would seem that with an abundance of medical schools being formed there would be a lot of physicians around to help cure diseases, but it would appear that doctors were equipped with the knowledge of surgery and anesthesia but lacked knowledge in hygiene. The issue of hygiene remained a problem throughout the Reconstruction Era as well and would not improve until later in history and although this time period is filled with tragedy there are many things that can be learned from these mistakes.