Civil War Washington

CASE 1205.—Captain J. Phinney, Co. K, 86th New York, aged 28 years, received a gunshot fracture of the left forearm, lower third, at Spottsylvania​, May 10, 1864. When he was admitted to Seminary Hospital, Georgetown, four days afterwards, he was in a rapidly sinking condition, and the injured limb was gangrenous from the elbow down, owing to the circulation having been stopped by applying bandages too tight on the field. On May 15th the arm was amputated above the elbow joint by Surgeon H. W. Ducachet, U. S. V., who performed the operation by skin flaps and circular section of muscles. Chloroform constituted the anæsthetic. The patient began to improve within forty-eight hours after the amputation, and, with the exception of the formation of two abscesses in the stump, his improvement continued slowly afterwards. About June 30th he was able to walk about, and three weeks later he left the hospital on leave of absence. The history of the case was reported by the operator. The Adjutant General, U. S. A., reports that Captain Phinney died August 10, 1864.