Civil War Washington

CASE 838.—Captain A. F. Miller, Co. K, 48th New York, aged 38 years, was wounded in the right ankle, at Cold Harbor, June 2, 1864. He was admitted to the field hospital of the 3d division, Sixth Corps, and thence, several days afterwards, to the Seminary Hospital at Georgetown. Surgeon H. W. Ducachet, U. S. V., in charge of the latter hospital, reported that the patient obtained leave of absence on June 13th and proceeded to his home. On January 13, 1865, the patient was discharged from service and pensioned. Dr. G. T. Stevens, formerly Surgeon 77th New York Volunteers, subsequently contributed the following description of the injury and resection of the ankle, which he performed: "The wound was caused by a minié ball, which penetrated the ankle, entering just behind the outer malleolus, passing nearly through the bones, and lodging in the inner side of the tarsus. The os calcis and astragalus​ were badly shattered. Two days after the reception of the injury the patient was brought under the influence of chloroform with intent to amputate; but after carefully inspecting the wound it was decided to attempt to save the foot. The wound was then enlarged by crucial incision, splinters of bone were removed, and the ball, which laid in the inner side of the ankle, was extracted. The shattered fragments of the os calcis and astragalus​ were then removed by a gouge and bone nippers, the wound was drawn together and water dressings were applied. On June 6th the patient was transferred to White House Landing in an army wagon, where he remained three days. Thence he was taken to Washington, and a week afterwards he went to his home in Brooklyn. Water dressings were continued. Extensive suppuration took place, and several deep incisions were made near the ankle. In about four weeks a considerable piece of dead bone came away, after which improvement was rapid. In injecting fluids into the original wound they passed freely through the ankle, coming out at an opening on the opposite side. In the course of eight weeks the patient was able to walk with crutches and from that time his recovery was rapid. He now (March 9, 1868) walks with little difficulty and there is no anchylosis." The Brooklyn and Boston Examining Boards in 1874, 1875, and 1877, respectively, certified to "anchylosis of the ankle joint, tendons bound down," etc. The pensioner was paid June 4, 1880.