Title: Hedden, W.
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), 462.
Civil War Washington ID: med.d1e19016
TEI/XML: med.d1e19016.xml
CASE.—Private W. Hedden, Co. D, 3d New Jersey Volunteers, aged 32 years, was wounded at Chancellorsville, May 3d, 1863, by a conoidal musket ball, which entered the right side, passed deeply beneath the muscles of the lumbar region and between the first and second lumbar vertebræ, fracturing both, and completely dividing the cord. He was admitted from the field to Stanton Hospital, Washington. There was complete paralysis of the lower extremities, relaxation of the anal sphincter, and retention of urine. The temperature of the body was below the normal standard; the respiration laborious, and the circulation feeble, with a tendency to congestion. The ball was extracted; the patient was placed upon a water-bed, and the urine was drawn off with a catheter. Cold-water dressings were applied to the wound, and tonics, stimulants, etc., were administered. On May 13th, the patient grew worse. He complained of pain in the track of the ball, fever and great restlessness. The wound did not discharge feely, and the urine dribbled away. On May 15th, there was an augmentation of the above symptoms, with low muttering delirium. By May 17th, the delirium increased, with a tendency to convulsions, and the patient died. The case is reported by Assistant Surgeon P. C. Davis, U. S. A.
