CASE.—Private W. Hedden, Co. D, 3d New Jersey
Volunteers, aged 32 years, was wounded at
Chancellorsville, May 3d, 1863, by a conoidal
musket ball, which entered the right side, passed
deeply beneath the muscles of the lumbar region
and between the first and second lumbar vertebræ,
fracturing both, and completely dividing the cord.
He was admitted from the field to Stanton Hospital, Washington. There was complete paralysis
of the lower extremities, relaxation of the anal
sphincter, and retention of urine. The temperature
of the body was below the normal standard; the
respiration laborious, and the circulation feeble,
with a tendency to congestion. The ball was
extracted; the patient was placed upon a
water-bed, and the urine was drawn off with a
catheter. Cold-water dressings were applied to the
wound, and tonics, stimulants, etc., were
administered. On May 13th, the patient grew worse.
He complained of pain in the track of the ball,
fever and great restlessness. The wound did not
discharge feely, and the urine dribbled away. On
May 15th, there was an augmentation of the above
symptoms, with low muttering delirium. By May
17th, the delirium increased, with a tendency to
convulsions, and the patient died. The case is
reported by Assistant Surgeon P. C. Davis, U. S. A.