Civil War Washington

CASE 633.—Private M. S——, Co. H, 116th Pennsylvania, aged 30 years, having sustained a gunshot fracture of the left ilium at Cold Harbor on June 3, 1864, was sent to Alexandria, and admitted to Sickles Hospital​ on June 12, 1864, in a weak and exhausted condition. Simple dressings were applied to the wound; tonics, stimulants, and anodynes were administered, and a full diet was allowed. A spicula of bone was removed on June 26th, after which improvement took place. On July 14th, bed-sores appeared over the sacrum; on the 18th, a large spicula of bone was removed from the left anterior superior spinous process of the ilium. On August 2d, there was dysuria, with high-colored urine, which disappeared under appropriate treatment. On August 17th, the patient went to Philadelphia on seven days leave of absence. His subsequent history is as follows: August 26th, sinking with exhaustion; wound has opened and discharges unhealthy pus; bed-sores increased in size and exceedingly foul. September 1st, pyæmia rapidly setting in: abscess appears before the anterior superior spinous process of the ilium. Death occurred September 8, 1864. At the autopsy, pus was found in the peritoneum, and a conoidal musket ball rested on the internal iliac muscle. Acting Assistant Surgeon E. Neal forwarded to the Museum the pathological preparation, represented by the wood-cut (FIGS. 147, 148). "The fragments are irregularly attached by callus, but the track of the ball is carious. The inner face of the ilium shows slight osseous deposits beyond the line of fracture."—(Cat., p. 227.)