Civil War Washington

CASE.—Private G. T——, Co C, 82d Pennsylvania Volunteers, aged 22 years, was wounded at Spottsylvania​, May 10th, 1864, by a bullet, which entered the left side of the face, one inch anterior to the angle of the inferior maxilla, and comminuting its body, passed through the tongue inferiorly, and escaped two inches posterior to the symphysis of the right side. He was sent to Washington, and admitted to Douglas Hospital on the 25th. The tongue was so swollen as to project from the mouth, and render articulation and deglutition almost impossible. The patient was nourished with milk and beef-essence, which were injected into the œsophagus. Secondary hæmorrhage, to the extent of twelve ounces, occurred on June 2d, requiring the ligation of the left primitive carotid. The internal jugular vein was also tied, having been nicked during the operation. On the 3d, a slight return of hæmorrhage to the extent of two ounces took place, and death soon followed from exhaustion. The fractured maxilla is shown in the adjoining cut. It was contributed to the Army Medical Museum by Assistant Surgeon W. Thomson, U. S. A., and is No. 3542 of the Surgical Section.