Title: Golden, D.

Source text: The Medical and Surgical History of the War of the Rebellion. (1861-65.), Part 3, Volume 2 (Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1883), 374.

Keywords:wounds and injuries of the lower extremitieswounds and injuries of the knee jointshot injuries of the knee jointshot fractures of the knee jointshot fractures of the bones of the knee joint treated by conservationrecoveries after shot fractures of the bones of the knee joint treated by conservationwound through patellatotal disabilitycannot extend leg, thigh and leg atrophied, knee swollen and painfulball entered at lower border of patella, made exit at outer border of patella, synovial fluid escapedpatella immovably attached to tibiapain is prominent symptom

Civil War Washington ID: med.d2e15292

TEI/XML: med.d2e15292.xml


CASE 556.—Corporal D. Golden, Co. M, 14th New York Artillery, aged 33 years, was wounded at Petersburg, June 17, 1864. He was admitted to the field hospital of the 1st division, Ninth Corps, where Surgeon M. K. Hogan, U. S. V., noted: "Wound of left knee by minié ball; simple dressings applied." From the field the wounded man passed to the Depot Hospital at City Point, and thence, on July 2d, to Harewood Hospital, Washington. Surgeon E. B. Bontecou, U. S. V., in charge of the latter, described the injury as "a wound through the patella," and reported that the patient was discharged from service April 14, 1865, for total disability. Examiner C. C. Bates, of Potsdam, N. Y., April 29, 1865, certified: * * "He can flex but cannot extend the leg, except enough to touch the toe to the floor. Thigh and leg much atrophied; knee much swollen and painful. Examiner G. R. Baldwin, of Fort Scott, Kansas, reported November 13, 1877: "The pensioner received a wound of the left knee. The ball entered at the lower border of the patella, passed outward and upward, and made its exit at the outer border of the patella. Synovial fluid escaped. There is a large, irritable, and tender cicatrix. The patella is immovably attached to the tibia. The leg requires rest, motion and strength being very much impaired. Pain is a prominent symptom." The pensioner was paid September 4, 1879. A photograph (Card Photographs, Vol. I, p. 17), represented in the annexed wood-cut (FIG. 227), was contributed by Surgeon R. B. Bontecou, U. S. V.

FIG. 227.—Appearance of knee joint a few months after injury. [From a photograph.]