Civil War Washington

CASE.—Private William Rogers, Co. G, 7th Ohio Volunteers, aged 23 years, was wounded at the battle of Port Republic, Virginia, June 9th, 1862, by a conoidal ball, which struck the os frontis, one inch above the edge of the right orbit, and about half an inch from the median line. He was rendered insensible for a few moments, but soon recovered sufficiently to walk from the field. He was admitted to Cliffburne Hospital, Washington, on the 15th. The wound was healthy in appearance, and discharged a thin, sero-purulent fluid; the pulsation of the brain was distinctly visible, and splinters and loose fragments of bone could be felt. Absolute quiet was enjoined, and light diet and simple dressing, with aperients, ordered. On the 17th he complained of increasing pains. Assistant Surgeon John S. Billings, U. S. A., enlarged the wound of entrance, and removed the fragments of bone with forceps. The ball could not be found, it having evidently entered the brain. The wound was left open, and lightly dressed with wet lint. The patient felt better the next day. The second day after operation, he complained of slight, persistent pain in the back of the head, which continued until the 20th, when a small fungus growth made its appearance in the wound. Suppuration, which had previously been profuse and healthy, was much diminished, and the pain increased. The fungus was readily detached with the handle of the scalpel, and its removal gave exit to an ounce of pus, which somewhat relieved the pain. Hernia cerebri again appeared on the 27th, and death took place on the evening of the 28th, 1862. The patient was never delirious, and could answer questions correctly up to an hour before his death. The autopsy revealed the ball, much fissured and twisted upon itself, lying in a sac of false membrane, about one inch beneath the dura mater. The whole anterior lobe was broken down, and of a pultaceous consistence, dark sanious pus filling the ventricular cavity. The adventitious tissue, which formed the bulk of the hernia and the cyst containing the ball, was soft, and under the microscope was seen to be composed of interlacing fibres, containing large cells in its meshes. The history of the case was contributed by Assistant Surgeon John S. Billings, U. S. A.