Civil War Washington

CASE 1186.—Private G. P. Cross, Co. F, 1st Massachusetts Heavy Artillery, aged 19 years, was wounded in the right leg, before Petersburg, June 16th, 1864, and entered the Grosvenor Branch Hospital, Alexandria, two weeks afterwards. Surgeon E. Bentley, U. S. V., who operated in the case, made the following report: "The injury consisted of a flesh wound on the posterior aspect of the leg. At the date of the patient's admission he was exsanguineous from previous loss of blood. Owing to his condition no operative measures were adopted, but his languishing vital powers were sustained by stimulating treatment combined with highly nutritious diet. Under this method he slightly improved in strength, but the circulating fluid was so impoverished in quality and reduced in quantity that the face of the wound looked pale and bad, and ultimately, on August 12th, it assumed a gangrenous aspect. Local applications, such as creasote, charcoal poultices, nitric acid, etc., were applied to combat this condition. These means failed to arrest its onward progress, the leg presenting in a short space of time a mass of gangrenous sloughs, horribly fetid. Hæmorrhage from the posterior tibial artery again commenced on the afternoon of August 15th, when it was deemed advisable to amputate to prevent further loss of blood. The operation was accordingly performed just at the tubercle of the tibia, the condition of the parts not allowing a flap to be made below that point. Not more than two tablespoonsful of blood was lost; but the patient not seeming to rally, it was determined to test the method of transfusion of blood as recommended by Brown-Séquard. Blood having been obtained from the temporal artery of a strong healthy German, an attempt was made to penetrate the internal saphenous vein, but was unsuccessful on account of its small size; after which an opening was made into the median basilic, and about two ounces were transfused by means of a Tiemann's syringe. Immediately after the injection a marked difference was noticed in the patient s pulse, which became stronger and firmer. He was then removed to his bed and generous diet was administered, together with stimulants and tonics, under which treatment he gradually improved, his appetite became better, his strength increased, and the stump assumed a healthy aspect. On October 20th the stump had healed and the patient had so far improved as to be able to be furloughed. At its expiration he returned, and, finally, he was transferred to Webster Hospital, Manchester, January 13, 1865, cured." The patient was ultimately discharged from Central Park Hospital at New York City, June 9, 1865, and pensioned, and afterwards he was supplied with a "Hudson" artificial limb. This pensioner died August 24, 1867.