Civil War Washington

CASE.———Sergeant Lafayette Young, 2d Co. of Sharpshooters attached to the 27th Michigan Volunteers, aged 27 years, was wounded at the battle of the Wilderness, Virginia, May 5th, 1864, by a conoidal musket ball, which fractured the skull at the sagittal suture. He was conveyed to Washington, and on the 25th admitted to the Harewood Hospital. The man's mind was sound, although strabismus of the left eye indicated symptoms of compression of the brain. The left leg was partially paralyzed. On May 28th, he was placed under the influence of ether, and Surgeon R. B. Bontecou, U. S. V., applied the trephine to the left edge of the wound, removed the loose bone, and elevated the depressed portions. The patient improved under antiphlogistic treatment, and on June 1st healthy suppuration supervened. Two weeks later, the left leg became entirely free from paralysis. On July 1st, small pieces of bone were removed, and the wound looked unfavorable. On the 23d, Young was transferred to the St. Mary's Hospital, Detroit, Michigan, affected with strabismus of the left eye and paralysis of the left leg. He was furloughed on August 2d, but died before the expiration of his leave of absence, August 21st, 1864.