An Unprecedented Problem.

In the last two centuries times of war have often seen great advances in medicine. This was decidedly not the case in the Revolutionary War. The eight-year conflict was America's first experience with large-scale treatment of sick and wounded over a protracted period. The colonies were woefully unprepared for a long war in this as in so many other areas. The Continental Congress learned about providing medical care for its troops "on the job," giving much of its effortan inefficient quality. Lack of funds, problems of supply, and the limitations of eighteenth-century medicine made medical delivery to the needy soldier problematic. At any one time throughout the war an average of 18 percent of the Continental Army—almost onefifth —was ill, and of course this number rose dramatically when epidemic diseases swept the army.

Medical Staff.

Each regiment had a surgeon to...