Title: K——, James

Source text: Surgeon General Joseph K. Barnes, United States Army, The Medical and Surgical History of the War of the Rebellion. (1861–65.), Part 1, Volume 2 (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1870), 168.

Keywords:on special wounds and injuries of the headwounds and injuries of the headgunshot woundsgunshot contusions of the cranial bonesgunshot fractures of both tables of the skullgunshot fractures of both tables of the cranium with depressionclassical punctured fracturepistol ball produced punctured fracture of os frontisextended depression of inner tableabscess of brainconvulsionautopsy performed

Civil War Washington ID: med.d1e11870

TEI/XML: med.d1e11870.xml


CASE.—Private James K——, Co. G, 6th New York Cavalry, was wounded at the battle of Gettysburg, July 3d, 1863, by a pistol ball, which produced a punctured fracture of the os frontis. He was conveyed to a hospital at Baltimore, and from thence to Carver Hospital, at Washington, on July 24th. He stated that, at Baltimore, he walked about and felt no inconvenience from his wound. On July 27th, he had a convulsion. The wound, which was nearly healed, was laid open, and depressed bone being detected, an effort was made to elevate it. Several small necrosed fragments were removed, and a small quantity of fetid pus escaped. The patient had become comatose, and the operation had no influence in relieving the symptoms. Death took place a few hours subsequently. At the autopsy, the extended depression of the inner table was discovered, and a large abscess of the brain.

FIG. 81.—Fracture of the frontal bone by a pistol ball. Spec. 1673, A. M. M.
FIG. 82.—Interior view of the foregoing specimen.