Title: Chamberlain, George A.

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), 194-195.

Keywords:diarrhœa and dysenteryfatal cases of diarrhœa and dysentery, with accounts of the morbid appearances observedfrom the Third Division of the Alexandria Hospital, Virginiachronic diarrhœa of long standingpain in bowels, abdomen tender on pressuretongue red and smoothmucous membrane of lower ileum coated with puruloid exudationpurulent exudatemesenteric glands much enlargedspleen enlargedliver enlarged and softenedautopsy performed

Civil War Washington ID: med.d1e41495

TEI/XML: med.d1e41495.xml


Case from the case-book of the THIRD DIVISION of the ALEXANDRIA HOSPITAL, Surgeon Edwin Bentley, U. S. V., in charge:⃰


CASE 479.—Private George A. Chamberlain, company A, 73d Ohio volunteers; admitted from the field hospital of the 11th Corps, Fairfax Court-House, Virginia, December 16, 1862. Chronic diarrhœa of long standing. He was extremely feeble and much emaciated; had on an average ten stools daily, accompanied by pain in the bowels. The abdomen was tender on pressure; pulse frequent and feeble; tongue red and smooth. Stimulants and astringents were administered, and warm fomentations applied. Died, January 12, 1863. Autopsy: The lower lobes of both lungs were slightly congested. The heart was normal. The mucous membrane of the stomach was extremely pale; that of the ileum, especially in its lower part, was softened, and coated with a puruloid exudation​ . The colon was moderately congested. The mesenteric glands were much enlarged. The spleen enlarged. The liver enlarged and softened.


⃰ It is to be regretted that, in most instances, the records of this hospital do not show by whom the autopsies were made. It is known that many of them were made by Surgeon Bentley himself, or under his immediate supervision, but it is only possible to distinguish these from the others in a few cases.