Title: Lake, Joseph F.

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), 442.

Keywords:wounds and injuries of the spinegunshot wounds of the spinegunshot injuries of the lumbar vertebrægunshot fractures of the apophyses of the lumbar spinecomplete paralysis of both lower extremitiesparalysis of bladdersacral sinus, connecting perineumabscess in the back

Civil War Washington ID: med.d1e18856

TEI/XML: med.d1e18856.xml


CASE.—Sergeant Joseph F. Lake, Co A, 17th Maine Volunteers, aged 23 years, was wounded at Mine Run, Virginia, November 27th, 1863, by a conoidal ball, which entered the left side about two inches above the crest of the ilium, passed transversely through the muscles of the back, in its course striking the spinal column, and emerged very nearly opposite the point of entrance. He was taken to the field hospital of the 1st division, Third Corps, and, on December 5th, transferred to the 3d division hospital, Alexandria. Simple dressings were applied to the wound. Complete paralysis of the lower extremities and bladder existed for five months after the reception of the injury. He was discharged from service on April 15th, 1864. Pension Examiner Horatio N. Small reports, March 29th, 1867, "partial paralysis of the lower extremities; complete of the bladder; has to use a catheter whenever he passes urine. The integuments over the sacrum have sloughed away. A large sinus, connecting with this, opens in the right side of the perineum. He has a large ulcer on his right foot. I opened a large abscess in the back, which discharged a considerable amount of unhealthy pus. His general health is very poor; in fact he is a broken-down man. He can walk a little with two canes, but is incapacitated for performing any manual labor, and permanently so. Much of the time he requires the constant aid and attention of another person."