Title: Thompson, Robert W.

Source text: Surgeon General Joseph K. Barnes, United States Army, The Medical and Surgical History of the War of the Rebellion. (1861–65.), Part 1, Volume 2 (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1870), 286.

Keywords:wounds and injuries of the headtrephining after gunshot fractures of the skullrecovery sufficient to resume military dutiesgeneral anesthesia, ethererysipelas

Civil War Washington ID: med.d1e16996

TEI/XML: med.d1e16996.xml


CASE.—Private Robert W. Thompson, Co. D, 99th Pennsylvania Volunteers, aged 18 years, was wounded at the battle of the Wilderness, Virginia, May 5th, 1864, by a corioidal ball, which fractured and depressed the upper part of the occipital bone, and lodged. He was conveyed to Washington, and entered Judiciary Square Hospital on the 11th. On the following day he was placed under the influence of ether, and Assistant Surgeon Alexander Ingram, U. S. A., trephined the skull, and removed the depressed portion of bone, beneath which the ball and a large firm clot were found. A piece of bone one inch long and half an inch wide, had been driven in upon the dura mater. The patient s constitutional condition was excellent. On the 14th, the head and face were attacked by erysipelas, which caused swelling, and completely closed the eyes. By the 19th, erysipelas had entirely disappeared, and the patient was nearly well. On the 27th of June, he was transferred to the Satterlee Hospital, Philadelphia, and on the 31st placed on duty as nurse; his wound being nearly healed. On November 28th, 1864, he was returned to duty. He is not a pensioner.