Civil War Washington

CASE.—Sergeant Borden Joline, Co. G, 1st New Jersey Cavalry, was wounded near Sulphur Springs, Virginia, on October 12th, 1863, by a conoidal ball, which entered the cranium directly over the right eye, about two inches above the superciliary ridge. He entered the Judiciary Square Hospital, Washington, on the 14th, and was furloughed for forty days. On March 18th, 1864, he entered Ward Hospital, Newark, New Jersey, his general health being good. A small opening still remained at the wound of entrance, discharging a slight quantity of pus. There was no swelling, redness, or inflammation of the parts. On May 3d, Acting Assistant Surgeon James B. Cutler, made a crucial incision at the wound of entrance, reflected back the flaps, and extracted the ball, which was partially impacted in the skull, and partly in contact with the substance of the brain. The missile was very irregular and misshapen. Cold water was kept applied to the wound, the head was kept elevated, and strict antiphlogistic treatment employed. Hernia cerebri formed, three or four days after the operation, with a profuse discharge from the wound. The hernia was pared off on a level with the scalp, but, on July 6th, it reappeared, when slight pressure was applied. By August 23d, there was no hernia or discharge. The wound was entirely closed, with no impairment whatever of the mental faculties, and the patient was doing remarkably well. On August 26th, 1864, he was transferred to Trenton, New Jersey, to be mustered out of service. This man's name is not on the pension roll.