Drug Supplies in the American Revolution

"Drug Supplies in the American Revolution" by George B. Griffenhagen is a mid-20th century historical examination of the difficulties in providing medical supplies to the Continental Army. It looks at the difficulties faced by medical officers and the impact of drug shortages during the American Revolutionary War. The story starts by explaining the chaos and issues surrounding drug supply after the colonies separated from British control. When the colonies lost access to English medicines, it caused shortages for military hospitals. The book describes Massachusetts officials' early attempts to find a reliable supply of medicine, the coordination problems, and the reliance on captured British ships, which became an important resource during the war. This introduction shows the complicated logistical challenges that the new American military and its medical staff faced in caring for soldiers.