Victory over disease in the Crimean War: A reassessment: Lecture by Dr Mike Hinton

Dr Mike Hinton, author of Victory over Disease: Resolving the Medical Crisis in the Crimean War, 1854–1856, joins the Retired Fellows Society to give the lecture ‘Victory over disease in the Crimean War: A reassessment’.

The catastrophic collapse in the health of the British Army during the winter of 1854/55 was followed by a gradual improvement starting early in the New Year. This was due principally to the progressive enhancement in the troops’ living standards – by the provision of adequate food, clothing, fuel and shelter. These improvements, coupled with the development of the facilities for health care in the Crimea, were combined with more satisfactory arrangements for the evacuation of invalids from the Crimea to Turkey and beyond.

The principal problems that beset the Army were at the front, not in Turkey, and it was there that matters were rectified. Specifically, the improvements in survival of patients at Scutari can be largely explained by an improved prognosis for the men selected for evacuation.

There is little tangible evidence that Florence Nightingale and the Sanitary Commissioners, who were sent out by the government to investigate matters on the spot, significantly influenced the improvement in the health of the main Army in the Crimea. Rather, it represented the involvement of people in many walks of life who worked, possibly unwittingly, for a common purpose, and with such gratifying results.

If UK government guidelines and restrictions change, the format of this event will be updated to comply, and all delegates will be notified via email.

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