Civil War Washington

CASE 1199.—Corporal P. Nelson, Co. K, 139th Pennsylvania, aged 19 years, was wounded at the Wilderness, May 5, 1864, by a musket ball, which shattered the radius and ulna of the right forearm for two inches at the junction of the middle and lower thirds, also wounding the ulnar nerve. One week after receiving the injury the man entered Finley Hospital, Washington, where he did well until June 9th, when the arm became much swollen and symptoms of tetanus ensued, including stiffening of the jaws, great pain and restlessness, and irritable pulse. On June 11th circular amputation of the arm at the middle third was performed under chloroform by Acting Assistant Surgeon D. P. Wolhaupter. All symptoms of tetanus disappeared after the operation and the patient rapidly recovered. He was ultimately discharged from service July 27, 1865, and pensioned. The two lower thirds of the bones of the fractured forearm were contributed, with the history of the case, to the Museum by Surgeon G. L. Pancoast, U. S. V., and constitute specimen 2586 of the Surgical Section.