Weeks, W. C.a machine readable transcriptionSusan C. LawrenceKenneth M. PriceKenneth J. Winkle2011med.d2e23037Civil War WashingtonUniversity of Nebraska–LincolnCenter for Digital Research in the
Humanities319 Love LibraryUniversity of Nebraska–LincolnLincoln, NE 68588-4100cdrh@unlnotes.unl.edu2011
The following are responsible for particular readings or for changes to
this file, as noted: AJ HowellMatthew BosleyElizabeth LorangStacey BerryElisabeth TraceySarah SynovecAlex KinnamanThe Medical and Surgical History of the War of the Rebellion.
(1861-65.)Washington, DCGovernment Printing
OfficePart 3Volume
21883597-598, 597, 596-597Medical and Surgical History of the War of the Rebellionwounds and injuries of the lower extremitieswounds and operations at the ankle jointshot fractures of the bones of the ankle jointamputations at the ankle jointprimary amputations at the ankle jointsuccessful primary amputations at the ankle jointball passed through ankle jointPirogoff's amputation at ankle joint, removed articulating surfaces of tibia and calcaneumcalcaneus, bringing cut extremities into appositionerysipelaspus in stumpmetastatic abscesses along anterior tibial lymphatic glandscalcaneumcalcaneus and tibia held in position by adhesive strapsicteroid hue, especially conjunctivæ, exceedingly yellowos calcis united to tibiawearing artificial footproofed figure encoding, added figureadded figure encoding for figure 346 and 355additional proofing of transcription and encoding, identified
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CASE 873.—Lieutenant W. C.
Weeks,² Co. I, 5th Michigan Cavalry,
aged 28 years, was wounded at Five Forks, April 1, 1865, by a conoidal musket ball, which passed
through the left ankle joint. Assistant Surgeon C. A.
Leale, U. S. V., reported: "He was immediately
conveyed to hospital at City Point, where Surgeon A. K. St. Clair, 5th Michigan
Cavalry, performed Pirogoff's amputation at the ankle joint the same day, removing the articulating surfaces of the tibia and calcaneumcalcaneus and bringing the cut extremities into apposition. On April 16th the patient was transferred to Armory Square Hospital at Washington, where he was admitted in a very feeble
condition. Erysipelatous inflammation extended from the stump several inches above the knee
joint. Extensive suppuration had taken place, and, although fifteen days had elapsed since the
operation, the rough edges of the calcaneum could be rubbed against the denuded end of the
tibia, proving that no union existed. The integumentary flap had partially united, thus
confining a large quantity of pus in the stump, which prevented the bones from being kept in
apposition. Metastatic abscesses had commenced to form along the course of the anterior tibial
lymphatic glands, and every symptom prognosticated an unfavorable termination, the only hope
being based on the remarkable strong constitution of the patient. The abscess at the stump was
freely evacuated, and the metastatic abscesses were freely opened as soon as fluctuation could
be detected; the calcaneum and tibia were held in proper position by means of adhesive straps
after the limb had been thoroughly cleansed with liquor of chloride of zinc. Large linseed
poultices were applied over the lower third of the tibia and lead and opium wash over the
remaining part of the limb as far as the erysipelas extended; stimulants and beef tea were
administered. The patient gradually improved until April 28th, when he had a chill, which was
soon followed by others. Quinine and tincture of chloride of iron was then prescribed and an
ounce of brandy was given every two hours. By May 2d the patient had the peculiar sweet odor of
breath and the well-marked icteroid hue, especially in the conjunctivæ, which were
exceedingly yellow. Several chills occurred each day and were followed by considerable febrile
movement and great prostration; but by the frequent administration of stimulants and the
constant application of artificial heat the patient rallied, after which beef tea was given in
quantities as large as could be tolerated. From May 6th he improved, the chills occurring at
longer intervals and with less severity until May 12th, when they ceased. A slight diarrhœa
at this time was checked by starch and opium injections, after which the patient convalesced
rapidly. By June 26th he had entirely recovered, the os calcis having united to the tibia and
the wound having closed, leaving a solid, firm stump." A plaster cast of the stump, Specimen
2298 of the Army Medical Museum, is shown in FIG. 346, and a photograph of the patient is copied in FIGURE I of PLATE
LXXV, opposite page 596. Lieutenant
Weeks was mustered out of service July
20, 1865, and pensioned, after which time he commenced to wear the "Palmer" artificial
foot. In a subsequent report, dated June 28, 1866,
Dr. Leale furnished the following information in regard to
the case: "I have just received a communication from Lieutenant
Weeks (residing at Allegan, Michigan), in which he states:
'I am able to do anything that most men can do; my patent foot works like a charm. I am at
present engaged in a large flour mill, and my stump has never troubled me but once since I left
the hospital, and then it was caused by an accident, which loosened a small splinter of bone.
This I had removed at Chicago, since which time it has done well. I adjusted my false foot on
October 1, 1865, and never take it off except
when I go to sleep. I can easily walk without a cane.'" The pensioner was paid September 4, 1881.
² Circular No. 6, War Department, S. G. O., 1865, p. 47. SMITH (S.), Amputations at
the Ankle Joint in Military Surgery, in U. S. Sanitary Commission
Memoirs, New York, 1871, Surgical Volume II, p. 116, 132.