CASE.—Private John W——, Co. C, 14Cth New York Volunteers, aged 24 years, was
wounded at the Wilderness, May 5th, 1864, by a conoidal ball, which entered the
right side of the face, midway between the eye and the upper lip, passed
downward and outward, emerging on the left side of the face, immediately below
the malar bone, producing a compound fracture of the superior maxilla, and
destroying the four front teeth, eye tooth, and three large teeth on the left
side, with their alveolar processes, and part of the palate process. He
received also a wound in the leg. On February 24th, 1865, he was admitted to Carver Hospital, Washington. The wound
was entirely healed when admitted, but the cicatrix produced great deformity of
the upper lip, interfering with proper articulation. On March 8th, Surgeon O. A. Judson, U. S. A., decided to operate, and having etherized the patient, made an
incision from wound of entrance down ward through the upper lip and a large
portion of the cicatrix. The adhesions that were found beneath were dissected
up, and the parts brought in apposition by pinsutures. Simple dressings were
applied to the wound. The case progressed favorably, and, by March 22d, the
wound had nearly healed by first intention. The lip presented a much better
appearance, the articulation was greatly improved, and the patient could readily
partake of solid food. On April 8th, he was transferred to Mower Hospital,
Philadelphia, whence he was discharged from service on June 24th, 1865. On
January 3d, 1866, Pension Examiner H. T. Montgomery reports "a large opening
from mouth to nose; great permanent deformity of face; voice and mastication
impaired." He rates his disability three-fourths, partly by reason of the wound
of the foot.