Title: Irvin, John
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), 298.
Civil War Washington ID: med.d1e17192
TEI/XML: med.d1e17192.xml
CASE.—Private John Irvin, Co. D, 88th Pennsylvania Volunteers, aged 20 years, was wounded at the battle of Spottsylvania, Virginia, May 10th, 1864, by a conoidal ball, which fractured the left parietal bone. He was immediately admitted to the regimental hospital, transferred to 2d division, Fifth Corps, hospital on the 12th, and sent to the Emory Hospital Washington, on the 13th. An examination revealed a lacerated wound of the scalp and pericranium, three inches long and one and a half inches at its widest point. The fracture of the parietal bone extended from the lambdoid suture along the median line, two inches by one-half inch. The posterior end of the fractured portion of the cranium was depressed. On the 13th, the patient's right side was paralyzed and his mind wandering; the pulse was normal, and the appetite good. He was placed under the influence of ether and chloroform. Surgeon N. R. Moseley, U. S. V., then enlarged the wound by a straight incision, and removed a piece of bone about two inches in length; several smaller fragments were taken out. Water dressings were applied to the wound, but no marked improvement took place. On May 18th, hernia cerebri supervened, the breathing became stertorous, and the pulse accelerated. Death ensued on May 31st, 1864. The case is reported by Surgeon N. R. Moseley, U. S. V.
