5. Post Surgeon's Quarters

The Surgeon’s Quarters is an officer’s duplex that was constructed in 1875. During most of the period from its completion until the decommission of the Fort in 1990, the South half of this residence was the home of a succession of Post Surgeons.

The Post Surgeon assumed many roles at frontier posts such as Fort Laramie. He was the surgeon and physician to the enlisted men, officers, and laundresses at the Fort. He also administered to the medical needs of officer’s wives and children and to the other civilians in the area. Only a small amount of his professional duties would involve battle wounds. Most of his practice would be devoted to caring for victims of accidents and treating diseases. The medical practices of the 19th century were primitive, however, and he often treated the symptoms rather than the causes of diseases.

In addition to his medical duties, the Surgeon also functioned as the local scientist. He logged the daily weather records, and recorded other scientific events of interest such as comets and meteor showers. He would also maintain a list of flora and fauna that he might encounter near the Post, and even collect and prepare scientific specimens to be sent back East to the Army Medical Museum and the Smithsonian Institution.

The Surgeon’s Quarters have been refurnished to the years 1880-1882. They depict a Victorian residence of an officer of above-average means, his wife, and four children.

Old Hospital
The hospital in this photograph was built in 1873 on the site of an old cemetary used by the army until 1868. It contained a dispensary, a kitchen, a dining room, isolation rooms for quarantined or critical patients, and even a surgeon’s office. There were only 12 beds, however, and no operating rooms or laboratories.

The hospital staff included a hospital steward, a matron, and one or more attendants (nurses). The steward was a regularly appointed non-commissioned officer who would most likely be permanently attached to the medical corps. He would be the wardmaster, record keeper and pharmacist. Only one steward was allotted to a hospital.

The matron (a woman) would assist the attendants and do laundry. One matron was allotted per hospital (two for posts with five or more companies in residence.)

The hospital attendants were ordinary soldiers, usually privates, who were detailed for hospital duty. One attendant was recommended for every two companies of soldiers stationed at the post. Attendants were exempt from most of the other normal duties of a soldier, but had to attend parades and weekly inspections. Hospital duty was not popular among the soldiers.