Blood and Germs

In her latest series on medical failures, acclaimed nonfiction writer Gail Jarrow explores the Civil War, the deadliest conflict in U.S. history, where over 600,000 soldiers perished—not just from battlefield injuries, but predominantly from diseases like pneumonia and typhoid fever. While tens of thousands returned home permanently disabled or disfigured, the war also prompted significant medical advancements as doctors and nurses refined their treatment methods. Jarrow utilizes primary documents, such as first-person accounts and medical case studies, to uncover the profound impact of sanitation improvements and the evolution of medical practices during this tumultuous period.