In 1775, when the staggering medical crisis known as the Revolutionary War exploded, less than 12 percent of the colonies' practicing physicians held a medical degree. And those few with degrees had graduated without ever seeing a patient. Here are their struggles, their strategies, their odd treatments, and their theories. From makeshift ambulances and wigwam hospitals to herbal drugs and 'cookbook' doctoring, this fascinating chronicle of the crusade against disease underscores the ingeniousness of America's most daring fighting men.

The Illustrated Living History series offers a close look at how Native Americans, explorers, and colonists lived their everyday lives in the America of the 16th-19th centuries. Each title in the series, especially created for grades 5 to 10, has been carefully researched for authentic detail and accurately illustrated to help young readers have fun discovering America's earliest history and development.

Wilbur is a retired medical doctor, and spends much of his time pursuing his long-standing interest in archaeology and artifact collecting. He is an accomplished historian and craftsman.