Civil War Washington

CASE 1214.—Private Peter Mon, Co. E, 2d Massachusetts, aged 27 years, was wounded at Chancellorsville, May 3, 1863. On May 7th he was admitted into Douglas Hospital, Washington. A minié ball had entered the internal portion of the calf of the right leg, lacerated the posterior tibial vessels, comminuted both bones, and lodged in the gastrocnemius muscle. When admitted to the hospital his general condition was tolerable, and the injury to the vessels was not detected, as the heat and appearance of the foot were good. On May 9th it was noticed that dry gangrene was beginning in the foot, and, after free stimulation during that day, a circular amputation was done in the lower third of the thigh by Assistant Surgeon W. Thomson, U. S. A. The patient reacted well and had no bad symptoms from the moment of the amputation. The ligature around the femoral artery separated on the tenth day, and by May 22d nearly one-half of the flap had united. A slight tendency to diarrhœa was readily checked by laudanum enemata. The patient was discharged August 26, 1863; stump quite well; patient strong and hearty.