CASE.—Private John Homer, Co. B, 18th
Pennsylvania Volunteers, aged 18 years, was
admitted to Douglas Hospital, Washington, June 4th, 1862, having been wounded by a missile which
entered immediately below the zygomatic arch,
passed downward through the parotid gland into the
pharynx, and emerged through the integuments on a
level with and one inch external to the thyroid
cartilage on the opposite side. June 5th, patient
being unable to swallow, and fluids taken into the
mouth passing out at the lower orifice, he was
nourished by fluids introduced into the stomach
through a tube; pus and saliva discharged from
wound. June 7th, no grave constitutional symptoms; patient still nourished by means of the stomach
tube. June 8th, dyspnœa came on about four in the
afternoon, and he died seven hours subsequently
from apnœa.