The Myles Gibson military lecture: surgery in the Napoleonic Wars

Throughout the twenty-two year period of the Napoleonic Wars, campaigns under extremes of climate cost the Allies much in terms of mortality and morbidity. Although Bonaparte brought about many sound political and national improvements, when France had been brought to its knees by the bloody Revolution, his ambitions became excessive and his military forays difficult to support. Following early successes in the field, he underestimated the determination, persistence and the ability of some opposing commanders. The French medical services profited greatly from the innovations of the post-revolutionary period, and the efforts of men such as Larrey and Percy. The British Army medical support was scanty, and, initially lacked experience. To some extent, this latter defect was corrected by Sir James McGrigor during the Peninsular War. Each campaign brought it's own perils and most men died of deprivation, disease and effects of climate, rather than battle injury. There were technically able surgeons who were inevitably hampered by lack of antiseptic technique, anaesthesia and the lack of understanding of the fundamental aspects of hygiene, adequate diet and good nursing care.