Civil War Washington

CASE 12.—Intercurrent erysipelas.—Corp'l Daniel Austin, Co. G, 16th N. Y.; age 25; was taken about Aug. 7, 1861, with diarrhœa, which became worse and was accompanied by pain in the head, back and abdomen. He was admitted on the 22d as a case of gastro-enteritis. Next day his tongue was heavily coated in the centre but bright-red at the sides, teeth black with sordes, pulse 100, quick, bowels tympanitic but not tender, yielding frequent watery stools. In the evening the fever increased and the patient was at times delirious. On the 24th the eruption appeared on the face and abdomen; the tongue became dry and brown; the stools continued frequent. He was restless at night, and next day the tongue was fissured, abdomen prominent and mind disturbed. The eyes were fixed, the expression vacant on the 20th and the patient raved about Mount Vernon on the 27th, but became rational again on the 28th. On September 1 an erysipelatous blush appeared on the nose and extended over the cheek. Tincture of iron was given every three hours and the face painted with tincture of iodine. The swelling increased and by the 6th affected the hairy scalp; at this time there was some cerebral excitement. Wine and nourishment were given and the iodine reapplied. He was improved on the 13th and able to sit up on the 15th. Bed-sores were present on the right hip and on the sacrum. This patient was discharged May 31 because of disability from typhoid fever.— Hospital, Alexandria, Va..