Civil War Washington

CASE 52.—Private Byron C. Crane, 18th N. Y. Independent Bat'y, was admitted Sept. 22, 1861, from Washington street prison. Diagnosis—typho-malarial fever. He had high fever with daily exacerbations followed by sweating; his tongue was thickly coated and there was much cerebral excitement, with twitchings of the hands and fingers and numbness of the feet and legs. Quinine was given freely and Mindererus' spirit every six hours. On the 26th there was profuse and almost constant sweating, with hot skin, little appetite, increased twitchings, restlessness and but little sleep. Milk-punch was ordered and the acetate of ammonia omitted. The sleeplessness continued until the 30th, on which date constipation was noted. Active delirium set in next day with much jactitation, and continued until death on October 4. Post-mortem examination twenty-four hours after death: Small intestine extensively inflamed and Peyer's patches deeply ulcerated; spleen very dark; liver normal; kidneys much congested; lungs normal; pericardium injected and containing an increased quantity of fluid. Other viscera not examined.—Third Division Hospital, Alexandria. Va.