Civil War Washington

Case forwarded on medical descriptive lists from the DECAMP HOSPITAL, David's Island, New York harbor. Acting Assistant Surgeon James W. Dickey in charge at the date the case was forwarded.

CASE 102.—Private Christopher McEnleer, company K, 1st United States artillery; age 26; admitted May 12, 1863. Chronic diarrhœa. This man was admitted to Armory Square hospital, Washington, D. C., April 22, 1863, with chronic diarrhœa, and sent to New York on May 5th. May 6th, he was admitted to the Convalescent hospital, Fort Wood, Bedloe's Island, New York harbor, whence he was transferred to this hospital at the date given.] The patient stated that he had been troubled with diarrhœa about eight months. He has now from four to six passages a day. Ordered five grains of extract of logwood three times a day; rice-water for drink. After a week or two, as the diarrhœa continued unabated, injections of laudanum and sulphate of zinc were directed, with the effect of diminishing the stools to from one to three daily. The patient improved in strength and was able to walk out quite frequently. June 15th: injections continued. July 1st: The stools are again more frequent, although the injections have been given regularly. The patient is evidently failing. Died, July 7th. The injections were continued till the day of his death. Autopsy: Some indications of inflammation were found in the right lung and kidney, and also in the posterior portion of the right lobe of liver. The small intestines were found to be much ulcerated. [The condition of the large intestine is not recorded.]—Acting Assistant Surgeon James W. Dickey.