Medicine has developed so dramatically over the past century that it is difficult to imagine a world in which its many benefits do 'would not exist. Even as humans manage to eradicate some diseases, a look at history reminds us that there was a time when these and other diseases were endemic and good health was the exception rather than the norm. There are many comparable periods when medicines were needed and used. With each of them came sweeping changes to medical procedures and medical rules. Among the many different periods in which medicine has been used; the comparison of medical care during the American Civil War and medical care during World War I is most interesting. How does Civil War battlefield medicine compare to World War I battlefield medicine? This is a question that cannot be answered simply, but can be broken down in terms of general hygiene of individuals, medical techniques and general medical personnel for armies. From 1861 to 1865, our country's deadliest conflict was contested. The American Civil War left more Americans dead than in the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Mexican War, the Spanish-American War, World Wars I and II, the Korean War , Vietnam and the Persian Gulf War combined. (Ballou) Around 600,000 soldiers and 100,000 civilians died. Of all these victims, three-quarters died from infected wounds or infectious diseases. (Ballou) About 10 million soldiers became ill at some point during the Civil War. This is largely because many men came from small towns and isolated farms. The individuals had never been exposed to the disease. This made millions of soldiers sick. (Morris) Of all the many different diseases that were rampant during...... middle of article...... 1999): 6. HistoryStudy Center. Internet. May 5, 2014. Kreiser, Christine M. “Medic! » Military History (Lexington, VA) November 2005: 30-36. Center for History Studies. Internet. May 5, 2014. Stepansky, Paul E. “Category Archives: Medicine in World War I.” Medicine Health and History. NpWeb. May 5, 2014. Campbell, John. “World War I: Medicine on the Battlefield.” NCpedia homepage. Np, and Web. May 05, 2014.Dr. Charles F. Ballou, I.,II. “CIVIL WAR MEDICINE: THE CONFEDERATE SIDE.” TheWashington Post (full text pre-1997) January 23, 1996: 0. ProQuest. May 4, 2014. Lax, Eric. "On the Medical Front; Civil War Surgery Bleeding Blue and Gray and the Evolution of American Medicine Ira M. Rutkow Random House: 396 pages, $27.95." Los AngelesTimes April 17, 2005: 0. ProQuest. May 4 2014 .