Title: Kessler, Simon

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), 252.

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 skullfatal cases of gunshot fractures of the skull treated by the removal or elevation fragmentstreated by operation, not by formal trephiningextent of injury ascertained with precision, organic alterations accurately observedconoidal ball fractured occipital bone near its centre, penetrated brain, extensive comminution of boneflesh wound over right scapularemoved ball and fragments of bone, including occipital protuberanceextravasation of blood within the craniumgeneral anesthesia, ethererysipelaspost-mortem examination performed

Civil War Washington ID: med.d1e16373

TEI/XML: med.d1e16373.xml


CASE.—Private Simon Kessler, Co. E, 9th New York Heavy Artillery, aged 22 years, was wounded at Petersburg, Virginia, April 2d, 1865, by a conoidal ball, which fractured the occipital bone near its centre and penetrated the brain; he also received a slight flesh wound over the right scapula. He was, on the next day, admitted to the hospital of the Sixth Corps, and thence transferred to the Lincoln Hospital, Washington, on the 8th. On the 10th, the patient had become slightly comatose. He was placed under the influence of ether, and Acting Assistant Surgeon W. B. Chambers made a vertical incision through the integument and removed the ball and fragments of bone, including the occipital protuberance. Cold water dressings and lead and opium wash were applied and quinine and iron administered. Traumatic erysipelas supervened, and death resulted, on April 18th, from exhaustion. A post-mortem examination showed extensive comminution of bone. The posterior portion of brain was much congested. The case is reported by Assistant Surgeon J. C. McKee, U. S. A.