Civil War Washington

CASE.—Private Patrick Norton, Co. D, 70th New York Volunteers, was wounded at Bull Run, Virginia, by a pistol ball, which entered near the right primitive carotid artery, and emerged near the inferior border of the scapula on the left side. He was admitted, on the next day, to the Presbyterian Church Hospital, Georgetown, D. C. The patient was somewhat exhausted when admitted, but rallied under the use of stimulants. Respiration was easy. Cold water dressings were applied and anodynes given. During the night the patient was extremely restless, continually calling for water, and wishing to have his position changed. The pulse was full and bounding. There was paralysis of the upper and lower extremities, consequent upon the severing of some of the nerves involved in the wound. There was also paralysis of the sphincters of the bladder and rectum, the fæces and urine being voided involuntarily. Great irritability of the stomach was a constant symptom, it being impossible for the patient to retain food or medicine for more than fifteen minutes. Involuntary emissions of semen occurred nearly every two hours. The patient finally became so noisy and troublesome that it was necessary to have him isolated. He continued in this condition until September 16th, when he began to sink, and died on September 20th, 1862.