#MiddleburyCT #FreeLecture #RevolutionaryWar #RoughMedicine
Dr. Ray Sullivan wears Colonial garb during a Revolutionary War reenactment. (Submitted photo)
The Middlebury Historical Society invites the community to explore the fascinating and often harrowing world of Revolutionary War medicine tonight, Wednesday, February 19, at 6 p.m. in the Shepardson Community Center Auditorium at 1172 Whittemore Road in Middlebury. Dr. Ray Sullivan, a Middlebury resident and the medical advisor for the Brookfield Health Department, will present “Rough Medicine: The Medicine and Surgery of the American Revolution.”
Dr. Sullivan will discuss the life and work of Dr. John Warren, a pioneering Colonial physician who became Harvard Medical School’s first professor of medicine. Dr. Warren, brother of Revolutionary War hero Dr. Joseph Warren, played a significant role in shaping early American medical practices.
The lecture will delve into the harsh realities of 18th-century medicine. Physicians of the time had little understanding of infection or disease origins, and anesthesia was still a century away. Yet, through skill and resilience, colonial surgeons managed to save lives, perform amputations, and care for soldiers in primitive camp conditions.
Dr. Sullivan will display authentic instruments and medicines from the period, explaining their uses and demonstrating how they shaped the practice of surgery and medicine. This rare opportunity offers an engaging and educational glimpse into the past.
Dr. Sullivan is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a former general and oncologic surgeon at Waterbury Hospital Health Center, where he served for over 30 years, including as chief of staff. He is also the author of two historical books, “Breakneck,” chronicling Middlebury’s Revolutionary War history, and “Contentment: A Novel of New England’s Birth.”
A dedicated Revolutionary War reenactor, Dr. Sullivan combines his medical expertise and passion for history to create immersive, engaging presentations. His detailed knowledge of 18th-century medical practices offers a unique perspective on the challenges and innovations of the era.
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