Program to detail medical advancements of Civil War

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

In commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War, Dr. Peter D’Onofrio will present a program titled “Medical Advancements During the Civil War” at 6 p.m. March 23 at the Melnick Medical Museum, 655 Wick Ave. Admission is free.

The Civil War was the first modern war, and — with weapons technology outpacing military tactics — it had the highest number of U.S. casualties per capita of any American war. About 620,000 men perished, including 360,000 from the North and 260,000 from the South; 25 percent of all soldiers and sailors involved died.

What is not well-known about the war is the rapid advancement in medicine that the conflict spurred.

Dr. D’Onofrio is president of the Society of Civil War Surgeons and editor of its quarterly publication, The Journal of Civil War Medicine. He learned about traumatic injuries firsthand as a paramedic, and has taught in various training facilities, including the National Fire Academy in Maryland.

The program, sponsored by the Ohio Humanities Council, is co-sponsored by the Mahoning Valley Historical Society, the Melnick Medical Museum, Youngstown State University Archives and the YSU History Department.

For more information, go to mahoninghistory.org, or call 330-743-2589.