Civil War Washington

CASE 655.—Sergeant J. Meier, Co. H, 52d New York, aged 43 years, was wounded at Spottsylvania​, May 12, 1864, by a musket ball, which entered the middle third of the right leg and injured the tibia. Surgeon D. H. Houston, 2d Delaware, reported that the wounded man was admitted to the field hospital of the 1st division, Second Corps, where the missile was extracted. Two weeks after the reception of the injury he was sent to Washington, and several days later to Philadelphia. Assistant Surgeon T. C. Brainerd, U. S. A., reported that "the patient entered Broad and Cherry Streets Hospital May 31st, the wound being healthy at date of admission and continuing so until July 3d, when sloughing set in. This was successfully treated by applications of nitric acid, followed by dressings of coal oil, together with internal administration of tincture of chloride of iron, porter, and generous diet. By July 12th, the wound was again granulating and his general health improving. Complete cicatrization being prevented by the presence of dead bone, that portion of the tibia was removed by Acting Assistant Surgeon D. W. Cadwallader, on October 1st, through an incision over the spine. The small fragments of bone were then thoroughly washed out with a syringe and the parts coaptated by adhesive plaster, over which simple water dressing was applied. Cicatrization progressed rapidly and was complete by October 28, 1864, when the patient was discharged from hospital," his term of service having expired three weeks previously. The removed sequestrum, six inches long, and contributed by the operator, is represented in the wood-cut (FIG. 255). Examining Surgeon G. J. Fisher, of Sing Sing, N. Y., August 22, 1865, certified to the injury, and stated: "The front of the injured leg is covered with delicate blue integument, not perfectly healed. He is unable to labor, and an artificial leg would be far preferable." The New York Examining Board reported, September 3, 1873: "There has been considerable loss of osseous substance. The entire anterior and inner aspect of the middle and upper portion of the leg is covered with encrustations, and there is periostitis and necrosis of bone at present." At subsequent examinations the same indurated, ulcerated, and partly indolent condition of the parts, interfering with locomotion, was reported. The pensioner was paid December 4, 1879.