Title: Iredell, W. G.

Source text: The Medical and Surgical History of the War of the Rebellion. (1861-65.), Part 2, Volume 1 (Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1879), 149.

Keywords:diarrhœa and dysenteryfatal cases of diarrhœa and dysentery, with accounts of the morbid appearances observedfrom the Douglas Hospital, Washington, D. C.chronic diarrhœaoccasional scybala passed, no bloodno tormina or tenesmussubsultus tendinumsordes on teethtenderness in lumbar regionulcerated points in small intestinesmall ulcers in large intestine, chiefly descending colonautopsy performed

Civil War Washington ID: med.d1e40872

TEI/XML: med.d1e40872.xml


Case from the case-book and medical descriptive lists of the DOUGLAS HOSPITAL, Washington, D. C., Assistant Surgeon William Thomson, U. S. A., in charge from February, 1863, to September, 1864, and after September, 1865:


CASE 301.—Private W. G. Iredell, company H, 28th New Jersey volunteers; age 38; admitted February 13, 1863. Chronic diarrhœa. February 15th, when first seen by the reporter, the patient was greatly prostrated, emaciated, and without appetite. He had six stools in the twenty-four hours; they were thin, partly dark, partly yellow; occasionally scybala were passed, but no blood. There was not much pain or tympanites; pulse 90; skin dry and cool; intellect dull. To take three grains of quinine and one-eighth of a grain of morphia three times a day. A pint of scalded milk daily, and half diet. February 23d: Seems much better; spirits good; pulse 95; skin moist; tongue clean or nearly so; bowels moved four times in the last twenty-four hours; appetite better. Continue treatment and diet. February 28th: Pulse 100; skin natural; no tormina or tenesmus; bowels moved about four times in the twenty-four hours; appetite good. Continue treatment and diet; a Dover's powder at bed-time. March 6th: Tongue moist; pulse 110; bowels moved four times in the last twenty-four hours. There is a good deal of tenderness on pressure in the left lumbar region; appetite tolerable, eats bread and milk. March 9th: The tenderness on pressure in the left lumbar region is greater, and extends to the inguinal region. Bowels moved about three times in the last twenty-four hours; pulse 120; some sordes on the teeth; subsultus tendinum. Died, March 10th. Autopsy ten hours after death: Body much emaciated. The omentum was small, devoid of fat, and its vessels much congested. The walls of the stomach were very thin. There were one or two ulcerated points in the small intestine, and a number of small ulcers in the large, chiefly in the descending colon. The liver, spleen, and left kidney were healthy; the right kidney enlarged.—Acting Assistant Surgeon Henry L. W. Burritt.