Title: Scott, Freeman

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), 559.

Keywords:wounds and injuries of the chestoperations on the chestexcisionsexcisions of the claviclepartial excisions of clavicleexcision of clavicle for compound fractureexcision of middle third of claviclegeneral anesthesia, ethergunshot perforation of the lungcomminuted fracture of claviclewound suppurating profusely

Civil War Washington ID: med.d1e20013

TEI/XML: med.d1e20013.xml


CASE 5.—Corporal Freeman Scott, Co. L, 21st Pennsylvania Cavalry, aged 18 years, was wounded at Chickahominy River, Virginia, June 2d, 1864, by a conoidal ball, which struck the left clavicle about its middle, producing a comminuted fracture, passed downward and backward, and lodged apparently beneath the scapula. He was admitted to Stanton Hospital, Washington, on June 4th. The wound was suppurating profusely but of good quality; the broken ends of the clavicle over lapping each other; they were denuded of periosteum and bathed with pus; they were surrounded by a cavity filled with pus, which extended down almost to the artery, and there was great danger that the sharp end of the underlying fragment would be driven into the artery by an unlucky movement of the elbow. The general health of the patient was favorable. On June 13th, 1864, ether was administered, the wound of entrance dilated by an incision on the front of the clavicle, and two inches of its middle third excised with a chain saw and the osteotome, great care being taken that the subclavian artery should receive no detriment. The portion resected was denuded of periosteum and lying in a cavity filled with pus. Death occurred from pleuritis on June 23d, 1864. The case is reported by the operator, Surgeon John A. Lidell, U. S. V.