CASE.—Corporal J. A. Gray, Co. I, 12th
Mississippi Regiment, was wounded at the battle of
Chancellorsville, Virginia, May 3d, 1863, by a
fragment of shell, which struck the left parietal
bone at the posterior superior angle, depressing
both tables fully half an inch. He was conveyed to
Washington, and on May 7th admitted to St. Aloysius Hospital. No untoward symptoms occurred
until May 9th, when he was attacked by
epileptiform convulsions, with complete loss of
consciousness. On the following day the trephine
was applied, and a button of bone, consisting of
the external table only, was removed from the
interior edge of the fracture. Fragments of the
external table were then removed which had been
driven backward between the tables beyond the
point of fracture, depressing, to a considerable
extent, the inner table, which presented on its
exposed surface no fracture or even fissure. It
being deemed that the removal of the fragments
would permit of the gradual and spontaneous
elevation of the inner table, and it being
impossible to elevate it at the time without
applying the trephine in a new position, it was
determined to leave the case without further
interference, unless symptoms of convulsions
recurred. Ice was applied, and no untoward
symptoms occurred. The inner table partially
resumed its natural position, and became covered
with new granulations. He was doing well on July
27th, 1863, and was sent to provost marshal's
office August 25th, 1863.