Title: P——, Asher

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), 255.

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 entered left supra-orbital ridge, produced comminuted fracture which extended transversely to coronal suture and below to junction of zygoma with malar bonemissile lodged in brainremoved portions of supra-orbital plate and of inner table of frontal boneremoved conoidal ball deeply imbedded in brain substanceentire paralysis of bodygeneral anesthesia, etherpost-mortem examination performed

Civil War Washington ID: med.d1e16447

TEI/XML: med.d1e16447.xml


CASE.—Private Asher P——, Co. G, 14th New Jersey Volunteers, aged 32 years, was wounded at the battle of Cold Harbor, Virginia, June 1, 1864, by a conoidal ball, which entered at the centre of the supra-orbital ridge, left side of the os frontis, producing a comminuted fracture, which extended transversely to the coronal suture, and below to the junction of the zygoma with the malar bone. The missile lodged in the brain. He was immediately admitted to the 3d division, Sixth Corps, hospital, and on June 10th transferred to the Lincoln Hospital, Washington. No untoward symptoms appeared until the 18th, when he complained of pain in his head. Several spiculæ of bone, and a buckshot much put out of shape, were extracted. On the 20th, he was placed under the influence of ether. A crucial​ incision was then made in the scalp, and several portions of the supra-orbital plate, and of the inner table of the frontal bone, were removed; also a conoidal ball, which was deeply imbedded in the brain substance. After the operation, the patient improved until the 24th, when delirium set in. Total unconsciousness, restlessness, and low muttering supervened, succeeded by partial and then entire paralysis of the body. These symptoms prevailed until June 24th, 1864, when death ensued. The post-mortem examination revealed the brain at the seat of injury very much disorganized, of a dark brown color, and of the consistency of starch. The rest of the brain was much softened, the ventricles containing a large quantity of fluid. The pathological specimen is No. 2666, Sect. I, A. M. M., and was contributed by Acting Assistant Surgeon A. Ansell.