Title: Smith, D.

Source text: The Medical and Surgical History of the War of the Rebellion. (1861-65.), Part 2, Volume 2 (Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1876), 997.

Keywords:wounds and injuries of the upper extremitieswounds and operations at the wristshot fractures of the wrist treated by expectationgunshot wound of wrist, treated without amputation or excisionball passed through middle of wrist at juncture of carpus with metacarpusinflammation involving forearm and armincisions in hand several timesball entered middle of carpus on dorsum of hand, inclined toward thumb, emerged through adductor pollicis musclecarpal and metacarpal bones injuredwrist anchylosed, fingers and thumb permanently extendedno power of prehension remainsfor manual labor injury almost equals loss of arm or hand

Civil War Washington ID: med.d2e31373

TEI/XML: med.d2e31373.xml


CASE 1931.—Private D. Smith, Co. I, 11th Pennsylvania, aged 26 years, was wounded at Bull Run, August 30, 1862, and admitted to Ryland Chapel Hospital, Washington, two days afterward. Surgeon J. A. Lidell, U. S. V., reported as follows: "Gunshot wound of left wrist, treated without amputation or excision. The ball passed completely through the middle of the wrist, at the juncture of the carpus with the metacarpus. A great deal of inflammation followed, involving the forearm and even the arm. No large pieces of bone have been discharged, but a considerable quantity of grit and small pieces of bone with a great deal of matter flowed away. It was necessary to make incisions in the hand several times. The patient was admitted to Stanton Hospital, from Ryland Chapel, December 5th. The wounds are now healed, and there is a prospect of recovery with a useful hand. This soldier was discharged January 7, 1863," and pensioned. Examiner J. I. McCormick, of Irwin Station, Pennsylvania, May 19, 1865, certified: "A ball entered the middle of the carpus on the dorsum of the hand, and, inclining toward the thumb, emerged through the adductor pollicis muscle. The carpal and metacarpal bones are much injured. The wrist is completely anchylosed, and the fingers and thumb are permanently extended, except that the index finger at the metacarpo-phalangal​ joint is movable, and can be brought in contact with the thumb, though without power. The little finger is abducted and slightly flexed, but firmly fixed like the rest. No power of prehension remains to him. For purposes of manual labor his injury is almost equal to the loss of his arm or hand." The pensioner was paid September 4, 1875.