Doug and Julie Decker of Hollidaysburg, PA, along with their children, bring to The Old Court House in Winchester, VA an educational program focusing on the medical practices of the Civil War . Demonstrations of amputations, eye surgery, and extactions will be part of the program along with discussions on nursing. The Deckers' offer first person interpretations of Maj. John H. Brinton and Sr. M. Camilla O'Keefe, DC.

 

During the Civil War, Maj. Brinton, a native of Philadelphia,  was staff surgeon to Generals Rosecrans, Sheridan, Thomas, and Grant. During his tenure in this position, he collected battlefield specimens for the U.S. Army Medical Museum, Washington City. Brinton was known as pioneer in several fields of surgery and authored an article on "Frozen death" as he observed this phenomena following the battle of Antietam.

 

Sr M. Camilla O'Keefe was a member of the Daughters of Charity from Emmitsburg, MD. Sister Camilla along with other members of religious orders served as nurses in hospitals throughout the North and South.

 

Doug is a graduate of Clarion University of PA with a B.S. degree in medical technology. He is currently the assistant chemistry supervisor of Altoona Regional Healthcare System. Doug has researched and portrayed Maj. Brinton for 5 years. He was given the privilege of viewing the archives and correspondences of his portrayal at Thomas Jefferson Medical School in Philadelphia, PA.