Civil War Washington

CASE 641.—Private L. J. Matson, Co. K, 2d New York Cavalry, aged 21 years, was wounded at Petersburg, April 1, 1865. Two days after the reception of the injury he was admitted to the Depot Hospital at City Point, whence he was forwarded to Washington. Surgeon R. B. Bontecou, U. S. V., contributed a photograph of the wounded man (Contrib. Photo's, S. G. O., Vol. VIII, p. 21), with the following history: "The patient was admitted to Harewood Hospital, April 5th, suffering from amputation at the left knee joint, which was performed on the field by the antero-posterior flap method, for shot wound of the leg involving injury to the knee joint. The operator and the extent of the injury were unknown. At the time of admission the condition of the stump and the constitutional state of the patient were tolerably good. The parts subsequently became gangrenous; but by timely application of escharotics, and by supporting treatment throughout, the patient did well and made fair progress in his recovery. A part of the femur was removed with the dressing forceps." The patient subsequently passed through Lincoln and Armory Square Hospitals, and on September 2, 1865, he was discharged from service, and furnished with an artificial limb by the Jewett Patent Leg Company. The pensioner was paid December 4, 1879. In his application for commutation he represented the stump as being in a sound condition.