Civil War Washington

CASE.—Private David Jones, Co. A, 1st Virginia Regiment, was admitted to the hospital of the 1st division, Alexandria, Virginia, on May 3d, 1863, with a gunshot wound of the head. The missile, a musket-ball, entered one-fourth of an inch above the middle of the right supra-orbital arch, fractured the outer table of the frontal bone, and taking a semicircular course, lodged above the right ear, whence it was extracted. The left upper eyelid was very much swollen, completely closing the eye; and there were symptoms of fever, with considerable pain. Cold-water dressings were applied, and the swelling gradually subsided. On May 20th, an incision was made, and a quantity of pus evacuated, which relieved the parts and improved the condition of the patient. On June 2d a piece of bone came away, and on June 12th erysipelas attacked the orbital region. The wound was laid freely open down to the frontal bone, which was found to be denuded of periosteum. On June 23d, the erysipelas extended all over the face, forehead, and right side of scalp; the tongue was furred, bowels loose, and appetite poor. Through the wound protruded a large tumor, the size of an orange, caused by thickening of the periosteum. A solution of sulphate of iron was applied to the infected parts. The symptoms being of a typhoid character, the patient was treated with fresh breeze day and night, beef tea, brandy, and flax-seed enema. On July 1st, the tongue had become moist and the stools more natural. On July 6th, the tumor was dissected, and isinglass plaster applied. The edges of the wound were then gradually approximated, and a steady improvement followed. He was sent to the provost marshal on July 20th, 1863. The case is reported by Surgeon W. A. Conover, U. S. V.