Civil War Washington

Case from the case-book of the SECOND DIVISION of the ALEXANDRIA HOSPITAL, Virginia, Surgeon Edwin Bentley, U. S. V., in charge. Autopsy was made and recorded in the case-book by Acting Assistant Surgeon Thomas Bowen:

CASE 459.—Corporal John Magher, company E, 88th New York volunteers; age 24; admitted from the field October 21, 1864. Chronic diarrhœa. [This man appears on the register of the depot hospital of the 2d Corps, City Point, Virginia, admitted September 24th—chronic diarrhœa—sent to general hospital October 20th.] Died, November 29th. Autopsy nine hours after death: Rigor mortis moderate; body emaciated; axillary and cervical glands very much enlarged; old ulcers (apparently chancres) on the penis; extensive suggillation posteriorly. The subarachnoid space contained an ounce of serum; the pia mater was injected; the brain was normal; fluid blood escaped from the sinuses when they were opened, and coagulated as perfectly as blood drawn during life. Neck and spinal column not examined. There were extensive firm, old pleuritic adhesions on both sides, and about four ounces of serum in each pleural cavity. In the apex of each lung was a deposit of cretefied tubercles; the lower lobes of both lungs were dark, congested, indurated, and crepitated very little when pressed between the fingers, but floated on water, (apparently first stage of pneumonia.) The bronchial glands contained large deposits of calcareous matter. The pericardium contained an ounce of serum. The heart was normal. The mucous membrane of the small intestine was healthy; that of the colon and rectum thickened, softened, extensively ulcerated, and of very dark color, (almost gangrenous.) The liver was normal in size, but when examined under the microscope was found to be in a state of fatty degeneration. The cortical portion of both kidneys was very pale, and when examined microscopically was found to be fatty. The spleen was very small; weight about three ounces. The pancreas was normal; immediately adjoining it were several enlarged lymphatic glands, which were partially cretefied. Many of the mesenteric glands were in the same condition.—Acting Assistant Surgeon Thomas Bowen.