What did a first aid kit look like in civil war times?

In Civil War times, first aid kits were not standardized and varied widely in their contents and organization. However, some common items found in Civil War first aid kits included:

- Alcohol: Used as a disinfectant to clean wounds and prevent infection.

- Bandages: Made from muslin or linen, bandages were used to cover and protect wounds.

- Lint: A soft, absorbent material made from cotton or linen, lint was used to dress wounds and absorb blood.

- Opium: A powerful pain reliever, opium was often used to treat severe pain from wounds or injuries.

- Morphine: Another powerful pain reliever, morphine was sometimes used in place of opium.

- Quinine: A medication used to treat malaria, a common disease during the Civil War.

- Ipecac: A syrup used to induce vomiting, ipecac was sometimes used to remove poisons or foreign objects from the stomach.

- Calomel: A mercury-based laxative, calomel was sometimes used to treat digestive problems or constipation.

- Tourniquets: Used to control bleeding by constricting blood vessels, tourniquets were often improvised from pieces of cloth or rope.

- Splints: Made from wood or metal, splints were used to immobilize broken bones.

First aid kits were typically carried by surgeons, medical officers, or hospital stewards, who were responsible for providing medical care to soldiers on the battlefield or in field hospitals. The contents of these kits varied depending on the availability of supplies and the specific needs of the unit or surgeon. Overall, Civil War first aid kits were basic and limited compared to modern standards, reflecting the limitations of medical knowledge and technology at the time.