Civil War Washington

CASE.—Private John W——, Co. C, 14Cth New York Volunteers, aged 24 years, was wounded at the Wilderness, May 5th, 1864, by a conoidal ball, which entered the right side of the face, midway between the eye and the upper lip, passed downward and outward, emerging on the left side of the face, immediately below the malar bone, producing a compound fracture of the superior maxilla, and destroying the four front teeth, eye tooth, and three large teeth on the left side, with their alveolar processes, and part of the palate process. He received also a wound in the leg. On February 24th, 1865, he was admitted to Carver Hospital, Washington. The wound was entirely healed when admitted, but the cicatrix produced great deformity of the upper lip, interfering with proper articulation. On March 8th, Surgeon O. A. Judson, U. S. A., decided to operate, and having etherized the patient, made an incision from wound of entrance down ward through the upper lip and a large portion of the cicatrix. The adhesions that were found beneath were dissected up, and the parts brought in apposition by pinsutures. Simple dressings were applied to the wound. The case progressed favorably, and, by March 22d, the wound had nearly healed by first intention. The lip presented a much better appearance, the articulation was greatly improved, and the patient could readily partake of solid food. On April 8th, he was transferred to Mower Hospital, Philadelphia, whence he was discharged from service on June 24th, 1865. On January 3d, 1866, Pension Examiner H. T. Montgomery reports "a large opening from mouth to nose; great permanent deformity of face; voice and mastication impaired." He rates his disability three-fourths, partly by reason of the wound of the foot.