CASE.—Private Jonathan G. S——, Co. D, 209th
Pennsylvania Volunteers, aged 28 years, was
wounded at Fort Steadman, Virginia, March 25th,
1865, by a conoidal ball, which fractured the
cranium. He was admitted to the hospital of the 3d
division, Ninth Corps, and thence sent to the
Armory Square Hospital, Washington, where he
arrived on March 28th. An examination revealed a
fracture of both parietal bones, immediately over
the sagittal suture and superior longitudinal
sinus on a line drawn from ear to ear. The patient's intellect appeared unimpaired; pulse slow and
tolerably full. He was unable to move his lower
extremities, but the sensation remained
unaffected; tickling the sole of the foot caused
involuntary shrinking of the foot and leg. He
voided his urine and fæces without difficulty. On
the 30th, Surgeon D. W. Bliss, U. S. V., applied
the trephine, and removed a small portion of sound
bone and several detached pieces, which were
firmly wedged between the two parietal bones, and
had partially been driven beneath the internal
table. Simple dressings were applied, and
stimulants and nourishing diet ordered. After the
operation, patient suffered no pain, and was able
to move his legs. He recovered, and was discharged
from the service on May 26th, 1865. The specimen
is No. 4036, Sect. I, A. M. M., and consists of
two fragments of bone from the sagittal suture,
about one-half square inch in surface, including
both tables. The specimen and history were
contributed by Surgeon D. W. Bliss, U. S. V. This
patient was pensioned, and in October, 1865,
Pension Examiner J. L. Swesserott reported that he
had left hemiplegia, a large depression along the
sagittal suture; the toes of the left foot were
constantly cold and destitute of sensation. In
April, 1871, no further information regarding the
case could be found on the files of the Pension
Bureau.