Title: Vexter, John

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), 480.

Keywords:wounds and injuries of the chestgunshot wounds of the chestpenetrating gunshot wounds of the chestpenetrating and perforating wounds without fracture.ball passed directly across neckgunshot fracture of lower jawpenetrating wound of chestfatal perforations of lung through intercostal spaces

Civil War Washington ID: med.d1e19274

TEI/XML: med.d1e19274.xml


CASE.—Private John Vexter, Co. D, 98th Pennsylvania Volunteers, aged 40 years, was wounded before Petersburg, Virginia, June 7th, 1864, by a conoidal ball, which passed directly across the neck. He also received a gunshot fracture of the lower jaw, and a penetrating wound of the chest. He was taken to the hospital of the 2d division, Sixth Corps, and, on June 10th, was sent to Emory Hospital, Washington. The wounds were cleaned and iced-water dressings applied, with stimulants, expectorants, anodynes, and nourishing diet internally. When admitted, the patient was much exhausted from loss of blood and exposure; respiration difficult; pulse 83, and irritable cough and orthopnœa. By June 11th, the patient breathed easier and was able to lie down. The swelling was subsiding, and the wounds discharging slightly. He was unable to swallow anything except liquids. On June 13th, the breathing became more difficult, and, on the 14th, the wound of the chest commenced discharging slightly, blood and air passing from the orifice. Death resulted on June 15th, 1864.