Civil War Washington

CASE.—Private Josiah Reed, Co. F, 148th New York Volunteers, aged 39 years, was wounded at the battle of Cold Harbor, Virginia, June 3d, 1864, by a conoidal ball, which fractured and depressed the posterior superior angle of the right parietal bone. He was admitted to the field hospital, Eighteenth Corps, on the same day; sent to St. Paul's Church Hospital, Alexandria, Virginia, on the 8th, and thence transferred to the Cuyler Hospital, Germantown, Pennsylvania, on the 13th. He suffered from headache without stupor or delirium; partial paralysis of the left foot and leg existed, and the tongue was drawn toward the left side. These symptoms continued without any change, except a gradual diminution of the paralysis until the beginning of July, when increased dullness and hebetude and a decided icteroid tinge over the whole body, rendered the prognosis more serious. On July 2d, the soft parts were divided, the seat of fracture exposed and all sequestra removed. One spicula measured an inch in length by half an inch in width, involving both tables. Considerable fetid pus flowed from the wound. The dura mater was covered with healthy granulations. The patient was kept in bed with his head elevated; cold applications were made to the wound, and an occasional mercurial and saline cathartic was administered. By September 30th, the wound had entirely healed. No cerebral symptoms appeared during the treatment. On May 10th, 1865, he was sent to the Mower Hospital, Philadelphia, and on the 16th, was transferred to the Veteran Reserve Corps. The case is reported by Assistant Surgeon H. S. Schell, U. S. A. This soldier was discharged the service July 10th, 1865, and pensioned. On February 13th, 1866, Pension Examiner R. C. Bordwell reports that the man suffered from partial hemiplegia of the left side, with confusion of ideas, loss of memory, etc. He rated his disability one-half and temporary.