Title: Smith, R. W.

Source text: The Medical and Surgical History of the War of the Rebellion. (1861-65.), Part 3, Volume 2 (Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1883), 46.

Keywords:wounds and injuries of the lower extremitiesflesh wounds of the lower extremitiescomplications of shot flesh wounds of the lower extremitieshæmorrhageligations of blood-vessels of the lower limbs after flesh woundsligation of the femoral arterycircumscribed false aneurism aneurysm of femoral arterysecondary hæmorrhage after operationrecurrent hæmorrhage fatalautopsy performed

Civil War Washington ID: med.d2e2940

TEI/XML: med.d2e2940.xml


CASE 99.—Lieutenant R. W. Smith, Co. I, 5th Pennsylvania Reserve Corps, was wounded at the battle of Bull Run, Virginia, August 30, 1862, in the right thigh. He was conveyed to Alexandria in a rough wagon, and thence brought to Washington, and admitted to Douglas Hospital, September 5, 1862, with a circumscribed false aneurism​ of the femoral artery. The vessel was ligated in the continuity on September 7th. Secondary hæmorrhage followed, and the patient died September 8, 1862. At the autopsy it was ascertained that the hæmorrhage had been temporarily restrained by the direction of the wound and coagula in the large aneurismal​ sac. Recurrent hæmorrhage had led to the fatal result. The preparation is well represented in the accompanying wood-cut (FIG. 20) reduced to one-half.

FIG. 20.—Unsuccessful proximal ligation of the right femoral artery for traumatic aneurism​. Spec. 509.