Title: Irvin, William N.
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), 272.
Civil War Washington ID: med.d1e16829
TEI/XML: med.d1e16829.xml
CASE.—Sergeant William N. Irvin, Co. B, 1st battalion, 1st Minnesota Volunteers, aged 25 years, was wounded on June 18th, 1864, near Petersburg, Virginia, by a conoidal ball, which entered the frontal bone, in the immediate vicinity of the left frontal eminence, passed inward, and lodged. He was conveyed to the field hospital of the 2d division, Second Corps, and on June 22d, transferred to the Carver Hospital, Washington. On June 25th, he was placed under the influence of ether, and Surgeon O. A. Judson, U. S. V., removed sequestra, trephined the edge of the fracture, and removed several pieces of cloth and the missile from the interior of the cranium. The fracture was nearly circular, and about one inch in diameter. Considerable swelling existed in the immediate vicinity of the wound, and the left upper eyelid was œdematous. The patient reacted promptly, and appeared to be quite easy; there being no cerebral symptoms or coma. During the day, however, he was attacked with delirium, which continued unabated until June 28th, 1864, when death ensued. The autopsy revealed a compound comminuted fracture of both tables of the os frontis, the missile having passed through the membranes of the brain, slightly wounding the left hemisphere of the cerebrum. The brain was completely disorganized; it being a reddish, granular mass. Both lateral ventricles were distended with pink fluid. A coating of lymph was found covering the dura mater at the base of the brain. The case is reported by Surgeon O. A. Judson, U. S. V.
