Title: Ward, Thomas
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), 541.
Civil War Washington ID: med.d1e19850
TEI/XML: med.d1e19850.xml
CASE 16.—Corporal Thomas Ward, Co. C, 2d Pennsylvania Reserve Corps, received a wound of the left axilla by a minié ball, at Mechanicsville, Virginia, June 25th, 1862. He was admitted to hospital at Washington, July 4th, 1862, and transferred to Philadelphia, September 2d. He was admitted to Christian Street Hospital on September 3d; on admission, both orifices of wound were healed. February 1st, 1863, swelling commenced in axilla. March 1st, there was some fluctuation in tumor; no bruit or thrill; an exploring needle revealed only extravasated blood; integuments discolored. March 14th, profuse arterial bleeding. On March 15th, the left subclavian artery was ligated, in its outer third, and an unsuccessful attempt was made to ligate the axillary, and a large quantity of extravasated blood was turned out of the axilla. At the time of operation there was excessive pain in the arm, ascribed to lesion of the brachial plexus; hypodermic injections of morphia had no effect, and cold-water dressings gave more relief than anything else; there was extreme prostration from hæmorrhage. Reaction never fairly set in, and he died on March 17th, 1863. The operation was performed by Dr. S. D. Gross, Professor of Surgery in Jefferson Medical College. The case is reported by Acting Assistant Surgeon John J. Reese.
