CASE.—Private Timothy Flaherty, Co. A, 1st
Maryland Cavalry, aged 43 years, was wounded at
Fredericksburg, Virginia, December 11th, 1862, by
a conoidal ball, which entered the lumbar muscles
a little to the right of the spine, passed
forward, somewhat downward, and slightly inward,
exposing a portion of the body and transverse
process of the second lumbar vertebra. He was
admitted, on the next day, to Stanton Hospital,
Washington. There was complete paralysis of the
lower extremities, both as to sensation and motion; the urinary bladder was also paralyzed. His
general condition was favorable, and appetite
excellent. Simple dressings were applied to the
wound, and nourishing diet administered.
Catheterization was resorted to, twice daily.
During the month of January, 1863, he began to
recover the power of using his limbs in bed to
some extent. In February, the bladder had
recovered its tone so that it was only necessary
to use the catheter occasionally. During this
month, the paraplegia continued to diminish
slowly. The bullet came away in the dressings,
having gravitated down from its place of
lodgement, as the patient lay in bed. In March,
electricity was applied, and diuretics, tonics,
and purgatives administered. By April 6th, the
patient was able to sit up, and stand with a
little assistance. He had difficulty in the
retention of his urine upon assuming the erect
posture, which was probably occasioned by the
prolonged use of the catheter. The urine was also
scanty. On August 15th, he was furloughed. The
wound had healed and he was able to walk with the
aid of a crutch, April 4th: walks pretty well
with the aid of a cane. The wound reopens at
intervals, and after discharging awhile, closes
again. On May 4th, the patient was transferred to
Haddington Hospital, Philadelphia, and, on July
14th, to Turner's Lane Hospital, whence he was
returned to duty on September 26th, 1864. Pension
Examiner H. W. Owings, of Baltimore, reports,
April 8th, 1867, that the patient was much
debilitated, with an abscess discharging through a
sinus in the right buttock, and that he could not
stand without assistance.