Civil War Washington

The next case was forwarded on medical descriptive lists from the FIRST DIVISION of the ALEXANDRIA HOSPITAL, Virginia, Surgeon Charles Page, U. S. A., in charge:

CASE 438.—Private Alfred Taylor, company B, 121st Pennsylvania volunteers; admitted from the hospital of the 3d Division, 1st Corps, near Catlett's Station, Virginia, November 4, 1863. Diarrhœa. The patient was very much broken down, and said he had suffered from diarrhœa for some time. ℞. Dover's powder ten grains, nitrate of potassa four grains, calomel one grain; three times daily. Milk diet. November 6th: He had a chill followed by fever, cough, and uneasiness in the chest. ℞. Dover's powder twenty-five grains, sulphate of quinia fourteen grains, mercury with chalk twelve grains; make five powders. Take one every three hours. A mustard plaster to the chest. Flaxseed-tea and nitre to drink. November 7th: Cough frequent; expectoration scanty; skin dry; some pain in the right side of the chest. On auscultation over the seat of pain some crepitation was discovered. To take, three times daily, a powder containing six grains of Dover's powder, two of quinine, and three of powdered camphor; also two ounces of wine every four hours. November 8th, morning visit: Pulse 97; skin dry; expectoration scanty. Continue treatment. Apply a blister six inches by seven to the right side of the chest. He died during the afternoon. Autopsy: The lower part of the right lung was hepatized. The heart and left lung were normal. No disease was detected in the stomach or bowels. The liver and spleen appeared to be healthy.—Acting Assistant Surgeon James Robertson.