Sick, Played out, or Malingering

[NH Civil War Gal]

From The National Museum of Civil War Medicine

I don't think I want a bunch of people licking my hand though - just saying

"It was my duty to stop with those who fell out and see whether they were sick, or played out, or malingering.

In one pocket I carried quinine, in the other morphine, and whiskey in my canteen. The hospital steward was behind, if I wanted further stores.

But ordinarily, when on horseback, I could inquire and judge without dismounting, and I got entirely practiced to dispense from the bottle into my hand and know the exact quantity. The quinine-Weightman's-was cottony, the morphine a fine powder. They licked from my hand and the men carried water in their canteens to wash it down."

- Dr. Nathan Mayer, 16th Connecticut

Image credit:
Detail from "The Surgeon at Work at the Rear During an Engagement" (from "Harper's Weekly", Vol. VII), Winslow Homer, Metropolitan Museum of Art.

 

[bayouace]

Oh, hail No to the licking. Interesting, though. Thanks.

 

[MWood1841]

quinine (??) nasty on all accounts. Licking it out of someone's hand and not to mention - common side effects include headache, ringing in the ears, vision issues, and sweating. More severe side effects include deafness, low blood platelets and an irregular heartbeat. Use can make one more prone to sunburn. I'd say the risk outweighs the benefits here….
To bad foot soldiers back then weren't privy to the pharmaceutical TV commercials we are now, where they list every negative medical side effect under the sun but death. Do I REALLY wanna ask my doctor about taking that?

 

[NH Civil War Gal]

Oh, hail No to the licking. Interesting, though. Thanks.

His face looks like he has had enough hand licking too!

 

[NH Civil War Gal]

Licking it out of someone's hand and not to mention - common side effects

I think the common side effects of licking out of someone's hand - with the scores of others would be amazing! You've either immunized the whole regiment or just sickened them!