Civil War Washington

Case from the case-book of LINCOLN HOSPITAL, Washington, D. C.; Surgeon J. Cooper McKee, U. S. A., in charge.

CASE 415.—Private Albert McCann, company M, 32d Massachusetts volunteers; age 24; admitted from City Point, Virginia, December 16, 1864. Consumption. [This man appears on the report of the regimental hospital of the 32d Massachusetts volunteers as taken sick November 3d—remittent fever—sent to division hospital November 23d. He is borne on the register of the hospital of the 1st Division, 5th Corps, as admitted November 23d—diarrhœa—sent to depot hospital December 6th. He appears on the register of the depot hospital of the 5th Corps, City Point, Virginia, as admitted December 7th—debility—sent to general hospital December 15th.] Died, December 20th. Autopsy two hours after death: Rigor mortis not very well marked; body considerably emaciated. The brain weighed fifty-two ounces; there was a large quantity of sub-arachnoidal fluid; the meninges were semi-opaque from a slight deposit of lymph. The larynx and trachea were healthy. There were pleuritic adhesions on both sides. The right lung was normal in appearance, and weighed fourteen ounces and a half; the left lung weighed eleven ounces and a half; its bronchial tubes were inflamed. The heart weighed five ounces and a half and contained no clots; its valves were healthy. There were evidences of extensive peritonitis. The spleen was congested, its external surface covered with a deposit of lymph; it weighed six ounces and a half. The liver was excessively congested, and on incision a large amount of black blood exuded; it weighed forty-two ounces. Both kidneys were congested; the right weighed four ounces, the left four ounces and a half. The mucous membrane of the large and small intestines was very much congested.—Acting Assistant Surgeon H. M. Dean.