Title: Gordon, Frank

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), 233.

Keywords:on special wounds and injuries of the headwounds and injuries of the headgunshot woundsgunshot fractures of the cranial bonesremoval of fragments after gunshot fractures of the skullrecovered after gunshot fractures of the skulldefective visionpartial or complete loss of visiongunshot fractures of occipital bone, blindness after removal of fragments of bone, lesion of optic centresconoidal musket ball fractured occipital bone at protuberanceextensive suppuration and hæmorrhage followed removal of pieces of dead bonepain in head and vertigo from exertionpartial paralysis of optic nerve of both eyes

Civil War Washington ID: med.d1e16018

TEI/XML: med.d1e16018.xml


CASE.—Captain Frank Gordon, Co. G, 121st New York Volunteers, aged 30 years, was wounded at the battle of Spottsylvania​ Court-house, Virginia, May 8th, 1864, by a conoidal musket ball, which fractured the occipital bone at the protuberance. He was admitted, on the same day, to the 1st division, Sixth Corps, hospital, and on the 16th, sent to the 1st division hospital at Alexandria. On examination, the fracture was found to extend one and seven-eighths inches, being one inch wide at the largest space. Fragments of bone were removed and ice applied. Extensive suppuration followed. On June 15th, several pieces of dead bone were removed, followed by hæmorrhage; the orifice was kept open by sponge tents. He had so far recovered in July that a leave of absence was granted to him. On his return from furlough, he was admitted to the Officers Hospital, Annapolis, Maryland. On October 7th, 1864, he was discharged from service and pensioned. Examiner J. A. Brown, M. D., reported, February 18th, 1865, that there was partial paralysis of the optic nerve of both eyes, the right being most affected. Exertion caused pain in head and vertigo.