Title: Vanderbeck, James

Source text: The Medical and Surgical History of the War of the Rebellion. (1861-65.), Part 3, Volume 2 (Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1883), 72.

Keywords:wounds and injuries of the lower extremitieswounds and injuries of the hip jointshot fractures at the hip jointshot fractures at the hip treated by conservationshot wounds at the hip with fracture of the articular surfacestreated on expectant planincisions and removals of fragments or foreign bodies consistent with true conservative treatmentanchylosis of knee joint supervened years after injuryball entered thigh above and behind the trochanter major, passed forward and inwardfractured neck of femurleg useless for purposes of labordisability total

Civil War Washington ID: med.d2e4042

TEI/XML: med.d2e4042.xml


CASE 142.—Private James Vanderbeck, Co. F, 145th New York, aged 21 years, was wounded at the battle of Chancellorsville, May 3d, 1863, by a conoidal musket ball, which entered the left thigh above and behind the trochanter major, passed forward and inward, fractured the neck of the femur, and made its exit at the groin. He was made a prisoner and remained in the hands of the enemy eleven days. He was then exchanged and conveyed to the Twelfth Corps Hospital, at Aquia Creek. The injured limb was simply placed in a comfortable position without any attempt at extension. On June 14th the patient was removed on a hospital transport to Alexandria and placed in the First Division Hospital. He was in good condition. The suppuration was comparatively slight, and no bone splinters were found loose and none had come away. Three days subsequently he was transferred to Philadelphia, and thence, on October 12th, to New York, where he was admitted to the Ladies Home Hospital. The wounds were closed at this date. The patient was discharged from the hospital and from the service of the United States on November 19, 1863. On that date he walked with crutches. His limb was shortened two inches, with eversion. He was allowed a pension. On August 2, 1866, Dr. E. Bradley, Examining Surgeon of the Pension Bureau, reported that Vanderbeck's general health was good, but that there was much lameness. The fracture was firmly consolidated. Commissioner C. C. Cox reports that Vanderbeck received his pension at the agency in New York City on March 4, 1868, and that his disability was then rated by the examining surgeon as total. On September 9, 1873, Examining Surgeon T. F. Smith, of New York City, states: "Ball entered left nates and emerged beneath left popliteal ligament, fracturing the femur; there is union with deformity and three inches shortening." On September 7, 1875, the New York Examining Board, Surgeons T. F. Smith, J. F. Ferguson, and M. K. Hogan, report "that the knee is anchylosed and the patient is obliged to wear a sole on his shoe three inches thick, and to walk with a cane; the leg is useless for purposes of labor."