Civil War Washington

CASE 137.—Private W. H. Slingland, Co. H, 14th U. S. Inf., was admitted June 15, 1863, and died on the 17th. Post-mortem examination twenty-one hours after death: Body not emaciated. Brain healthy. Æsophageal​ mucous membrane yellow-tinged and presenting superficial ulcers in its lower portion, the ulcers having their greatest diameter parallel to the axis of the tube. Lymphatic glands at bifurcation of trachea much softened and blackish; upper and middle lobes of right lung and upper lobe of left lung slightly congested, lower lobes intensely congested. Heart flabby, containing no clots; pericardium everywhere firmly attached to the heart, obliterating the sac. Liver very flabby, dull greenish in color, evolving a peculiar chicken-coop odor and so soft that the finger could be inserted in every direction; gall-bladder containing eight drachms of dark ochre-colored bile; spleen dark, soft, pultaceous, weight seven ounces. Lower fifth of small intestine ulcerated, the ulcers confined to Peyer's patches and presenting ragged surfaces, purplish walls and congestion of the surrounding mucous membrane—the patches higher up in the intestine being pale and not elevated or congested. Kidneys congested.—Ass't Surg. Harrison Allen, U. S. A., Lincoln Hospital, Washington, D. C.