Title: S——, M.

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), 185.

Keywords:on special wounds and injuries of the headwounds and injuries of the headgunshot woundsgunshot fractures of the cranial bonesdepressed gunshot fracture of cranial bonesintra-cranialintracranial abscesses following depressed gunshot fractures of skullmusket ball fractured squamous portion of left temporal bonepus in left arachnoid cavitypus upon superior surface of cerebellum on both sidesleft cerebral hemisphere of dark slate colorfracture had radiating fissures, commenced anterior to left ear and extended posteriorlyfracture opening filled with disorganized brainautopsy performed

Civil War Washington ID: med.d1e13234

TEI/XML: med.d1e13234.xml


CASE.—Private M. S——, Co. F, 86th New York Volunteers, aged 25 years, was wounded at the battle of Beverly Ford, Virginia, June 9th, 1863, by a musket ball, which fractured the squamous portion of the left temporal bone. He was conveyed to Washington, and was admitted to the Lincoln Hospital on June 10th, where water dressings were applied. Death occurred on June 28th, 1863. Autopsy: The fracture, which had radiating fissures, commenced one and a half inches anteriorly to the left ear and extended one inch posteriorly, the opening being filled with disorganized brain. Upon the removal of the calvaria​, the left hemisphere was observed to be of a dark slate color, while the appearance of the right was natural. The dura mater was lined with a dark unhealthy fluid. Pus also was found in the arachnoid cavity on the left side. The pia mater was not affected. The inferior portion of the middle cornu was disorganized, and had doubtless been involved in the injury. Pus was found upon the superior surface of the cerebellum on both sides. The pathological specimen is No. 1344, Sect. I, A. M. M., and shows the vault of the cranium, with the line of section through the fractured bone, of which only the upper part is apparent. The specimen and history were contributed by Surgeon G. S. Palmer, U. S. V.