Civil War Washington

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 309.—Private Obed E. Taylor, company F, 106th Pennsylvania volunteers; age 35; admitted from the army of the Potomac February 1, 1864. Chronic diarrhœa. [It appears from the register of the regimental hospital of the 106th Pennsylvania volunteers that this man was treated in that hospital for diarrhœa in November, 1863, and again in January, 1864.] This man had been sick about four months. He was very weak, greatly emaciated, and in a very filthy condition. The stools were frequent, very thin, and of an ash-gray color; had severe tormina and tenesmus. A grain of opium was administered at once, with an ounce of whiskey, and a blister applied to the abdomen. February 2d: Slept very little last night; had several involuntary evacuations. ℞. Acetate of lead two scruples, opium ten grains, ipecacuanha one scruple; make forty powders. Take one three times daily; also a laudanum enema three times daily. Stimulants and milk diet. He continued about the same until February 7th, when symptoms of pneumonia of the lower lobe of the left lung set in, for which a blister was applied to the chest and fluid extract of seneka given internally. Milk-punch and beef-tea were freely administered. Died, February 10th. Autopsy six hours after death: Body emaciated; rigor mortis well marked. The left lung presented lobular pneumonia in the first stage. The liver was fatty. Peyer's patches were enlarged and injected. The large intestine was ulcerated and coated with pseudomembrane from the ileocæcal valve to the rectum. The right kidney was abnormally small.—Acting Assistant Surgeon Carlos Carvallo.