Aseltyne, M. B. a machine readable transcription Susan C. Lawrence Kenneth M. Price Kenneth J. Winkle 2011 med.d2e16821 Civil War Washington University of Nebraska–Lincoln Center for Digital Research in the Humanities
319 Love Library University of Nebraska–Lincoln Lincoln, NE 68588-4100 cdrh@unlnotes.unl.edu
 2011

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 The following are responsible for particular readings or for changes to this file, as noted: Kenneth M. Price AJ Howell Matthew Bosley The Medical and Surgical History of the War of the Rebellion. (1861-65.) Washington, DC Government Printing Office Part 3 Volume 2 1883 405, 736 (Part 2, Volume 2) Medical and Surgical History of the War of the Rebellion wounds and injuries of the lower extremities wounds and injuries of the knee joint shot injuries of the knee joint amputations at the knee joint intermediary amputations at the knee joint fatal cases of intermediary amputation at the knee joint wounded in foot ball entered anterior surface of foot, fractured cuneiform bones, extracted on field through orifice of entrance gangrene leg amputated at knee joint, retaining patella after disarticulating joint pyæmia general anesthesia, chloroform blessed added figure encoding additional case copied from MSHWR, performed proofing of copy and XML encoding, and key terms identified

CASE 649.—Private M. B. Aseltyne, Co. F, 10th Vermont, aged 22 years, was wounded in the left foot, at Mine Run, November 27, 1863, and entered the Third Division Hospital, Alexandria, one week afterwards. Acting Assistant Surgeon A. P. Crafts reported: "A conical ball entered the anterior surface of the foot, fractured the cuneiform bones, and was extracted through the orifice of entrance, on the field. At the time of the patient s admission there was much tumefaction and inflammation of the foot and leg, which at first seemed to yield to treatment. But, on December 10th, evidences of gangrene began to show themselves, and four days afterwards the leg was amputated at the knee joint by Surgeon E. Bentley, U. S. V. The operation was performed by the circular method, and by retaining the patella after disarticulating the joint. Chloroform constituted the anæsthetic. Simple dressings were used to the stump, and tonics and stimulants, including iron and quinine, and acetate of ammonia were given in the treatment. On December 20th, there were symptoms of pyæmia. The patient's countenance became sallow and anxious, a severe chill occurred, and hiccough set in, followed by loss of appetite and by profuse sweating. Death supervened on December 27, 1863. At the post-mortem examination the liver, kidneys, spleen, and intestines were found healthy, the lungs much discolored, and some effusion in the cavity of the chest. There was also great hypertrophy of the heart and some effusion within the pericardium." A section of the stump, made by Surgeon J. H. Brinton, U. S. V., showed the femur to be healthy, although denuded of periosteum for six inches above the joint. The synovial membrane on the crucial ligament was congested, and the cartilage of the femur was thinned and softened, the whole color being changed and absorption commencing. The ligature of the popliteal artery had partially sloughed, and the base of the long internal clot had come down and projected through the opening made by sloughing in the walls of the vessel. The artery, showing its condition as described, was contributed to the Museum by the operator. A wet preparation of it constitutes specimen 1989 of the Surgical Section, and a chromo-lithographic representation is shown on PLATE. XXII, opposite page 736 of the Second Surgical Volume.

PLATE XXII. 2, LIGATION OF POPLITEAL.