Civil War Washington

CASE.—Private Thomas Hagerty, Co. K, 3d Pennsylvania Cavalry, aged 37 years, was admitted to McVeigh branch 3d division hospital, Alexandria, Virginia, December 4th, 1863, having been wounded at the battle of Mine Run, November 27th, by a conical ball, which entered one inch to the left of and exactly in line with the point of the sternum, passed directly across the body and was extracted at the lower edge of the middle of the eighth rib. When wounded, he had in his coat-pocket a letter containing a quantity of hog's bristles, a looking-glass cased in a wooden frame, and a gutta-percha comb, portions of all of which were driven into, and were, at different times, extracted from the wound, large portions of the looking-glass case being extracted at four different points in the course of the ball. When admitted, the patient was much prostrated, having been exposed to all the inclemencies of the season, without rations for several days, and transported in an army wagon some forty miles. He lingered for a long time at the point of death, and exhibited some symptoms of pyæmia, of which there were many cases in the hospital at that time, but, aided by constant care, together with the liberal exhibition of tonics and stimulants, with extra diet, the powers of nature overcame the prostration, and he recovered so far as to receive a furlough to go to Philadelphia on the 18th of May, 1864. He returned from furlough in July somewhat improved, but suffering greatly from pain in the region of the wound on any sudden movement, or upon being obliged to stoop. He was discharged from service on August 8th, 1864. Surgeon Edwin Bentley, U. S. V., reports the case.