Title: Chessman, Edward B.

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), 188-189.

Keywords:diarrhœa and dysenteryfatal cases of diarrhœa and dysentery, with accounts of the morbid appearances observedfrom the Second Division of the Alexandria Hospital, Virginiamucous membrane of both small and large intestine inflamed and thickenedchronic diarrhœalungs congested, no tuberclesautopsy performed

Civil War Washington ID: med.d1e41362

TEI/XML: med.d1e41362.xml


Case from the medical descriptive lists of the SECOND DIVISION of the ALEXANDRIA HOSPITAL, Virginia, Surgeon T. Rush Spencer, U. S. V., in charge:


CASE 444.—Private Edward B. Chessman, company H, 32d Massachusetts volunteers; age 34; admitted December 5, 1863. Chronic diarrhœa. The patient had been sick nine weeks, having on an average eight passages per day; his appetite was poor; he was very weak and greatly emaciated. Treatment: Tannic acid and opium, tincture of the chloride of iron, whiskey. December 9th: The diarrhœa is decreasing; he has now about four passages per day. Treatment continued. December 11th: Diarrhœa nearly controlled. December 15th: Diarrhœa has again returned; passages eight per day and painful. Complains of constant abdominal pain. Apply a mustard poultice; acetate of lead and opium. December 19th : The diarrhœa continues unchecked. The patient is losing strength. Died, December 27th. Autopsy: The lungs were congested, but contained no tubercles. The mucous membrane of both small and large intestine was inflamed and thickened.—Acting Assistant Surgeon Thomas H. Stillwell.