Civil War Washington

CASE.—Private James B. Perkins, Co H, 20th Connecticut Volunteers, aged 23 years, was wounded at the battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia, May 3d, 1863, by a musket ball which fractured the frontal bone an inch above the right eye and lodged in the frontal sinus. He was taken prisoner, but was paroled on May 10th, and admitted two days subsequently into the field hospital of the Twelfth Corps. He was transferred to Fairfax Seminary hospital on June 14th, and thence to Philadelphia on the 17th, and admitted into Mower Hospital. On the 28th an examination of the wound revealed the external table denuded and slightly depressed. On July 10th the wound was discharging healthy pus, and on August 5th had closed, except an opening half an inch wide. On November 23d he had sufficiently recovered to be placed on guard duty in the hospital. On December 8th a slight swelling over the right frontal protuberance was observed. The probe detected small loose fragments of bone. Acting Assistant Surgeon J. M. McGrath made a straight incision an inch in length, extending from the fistulous orifice over the superciliary ridge. The outer table of the skull was found destroyed, and a musket ball almost completely divided through its centre and spread open, was discovered partially imbedded in the frontal sinus. The missile, together with several fragments of bone, was removed by forceps. The wound was closed by adhesive strips, and cold water dressings were applied. The patient improved gradually, and by January 18th, 1864, the wound had healed except at a small opening through which there was a slight discharge of healthy pus. On March 31st he was transferred to New Haven to the Knight Hospital, whence he was returned to duty on May 7th, 1864. The case is reported by Surgeon Joseph Hopkinson, U. S. V. The name of this patient is not upon the rolls of the Pension Office.