Miller, J.a machine readable transcriptionSusan C. LawrenceKenneth M. PriceKenneth J. Winkle2011med.d2e24320Civil War WashingtonUniversity of Nebraska–LincolnCenter for Digital Research in the
Humanities319 Love LibraryUniversity of Nebraska–LincolnLincoln, NE 68588-4100cdrh@unlnotes.unl.edu2011
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Kenneth WinkleAJ HowellMatthew BosleyElizabeth LorangStacey BerryElisabeth TraceySarah SynovecThe Medical and Surgical History of the War of the Rebellion.
(1861-65.)Washington, DCGovernment Printing
OfficePart 3Volume
21883629Medical and Surgical History of the War of the Rebellionwounds and injuries of the lower extremitieswounds and operations in the footshot wounds of the bones of the footshot fractures of the bones of the footamputations in the footprimary amputations in the footwounded in footamputation at tarsusChopart's amputation performed on fieldgangreneenormous leg abscesssevere pain, incision into periosteum giving exit to confined pusdiarrhœasupplied with artificial footblessedadded figure encodingadditional proofing of transcription and encoding, identified
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CASE 924.—Private J.
Miller, Co. E, 6th Pennsylvania Reserves,
aged 20 years, was wounded in the right foot, fracturing the bone, at Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862.
He was admitted to the field hospital of the 3d division, First Corps. Surgeon C. Bower, 6th Pennsylvania
Reserves, reported that he performed "amputation at the tarsus" on the day of the injury. Acting
Assistant Surgeon H. Hirschfield reported the progress of the case as follows: "The
patient was admitted to Harewood Hospital at Washington
ten days after being wounded. Chopart's
amputation had been performed on the field. On December 27th, when the case was first seen by
me, there was much suppuration and the wound seemed to be drawn open, by the tendo-achillis. I
applied a splint to correct the tension and at first used cold water and afterwards warm
dressings; tonics and stimulants were administered. By January 20, 1863, the wound had nearly
healed and dry lint and bandages were used. A small abscess had appeared at the ankle and had
been opened. About February 15th this opening became gangrenous and the leg in this locality
swelled up to an enormous size the abscess, which originally was only two inches long, growing
into a large sore of circular shape three and a half inches in diameter. All the tissues and
even the periosteum were destroyed. Healthy granulations, however, were finally brought out, and
the part was healing but could not close up on account of necrosis in part of the tibia. While
the healing process of the neighboring parts was progressing favorably, erysipelas set in and
spread from the foot to nearly up to the knee, being attended by excessive sloughing of the
original abscess. This soon passed off, however, and after a few days the wound again became
healthy in appearance, decreased in extent, and the leg resumed its natural size rapidly. Things
now went on favorably again for a time, when severe
pain indicated another collection of matter above the line of the affected tibia and towards the
middle of the leg, which was relieved by an incision two inches in length into the periosteum,
giving free exit to the confined pus. This last opening healed up readily, and by June 1st nature had completed the exfoliation of the
cortical substance of the tibia, which I removed four inches in length. The wound now healed up
very rapidly, but several days afterwards gangrene re-appeared and continued up to June 10th.
Poultices were continued in the mean time and the treatment was adapted to the exigencies of the
case. During the progress of the case the patient's general condition, which was very good now,
had varied according to the several complications, being sometimes very low and prostrated from
hectic and diarrhœa, but always reacting rapidly. On June 14th healthy granulations once
more showed themselves, and by July 8th the wound had closed up to the size of a two-shilling
piece. Ten days later it was healed entirely, the patient's general condition being excellent."
He was discharged from service September 4,
1863, and pensioned, and one year afterwards
he was supplied with an artificial foot by the Palmer Arm and
Leg Co. of Philadelphia. The pensioner was paid June 4, 1880.