Worthen, E. a machine readable transcription Susan C. Lawrence Kenneth M. Price Kenneth J. Winkle 2011 med.d2e8301 Civil War Washington University of Nebraska–Lincoln Center for Digital Research in the Humanities
319 Love LibraryUniversity of Nebraska–LincolnLincoln, NE 68588-4100cdrh@unlnotes.unl.edu
 2011

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 The following are responsible for particular readings or for changes to this file, as noted: Kenneth Winkle AJ Howell Matthew Bosley The Medical and Surgical History of the War of the Rebellion. (1861-65.)Washington, DCGovernment Printing OfficePart 3Volume 21883183 Medical and Surgical History of the War of the Rebellion wounds and injuries of the lower extremities injuries of the shaft of the femur shot fractures of the shaft of the femur shot fractures of the shaft of the femur treated by conservation shot fractures of the upper third of the femur treated by conservation recoveries after shot fractures of the upper third of the femur treated by conservation ball entered thigh in front, passed directly through, emerged posteriorly at lower border of glutei muscles comminuted fracture of femur injured limb shortened and considerably deformed discharge of burrowing pus typhoid fever erysipelas blessed added figure encoding additional case copied from MSHWR, performed proofing of copy and XML encoding, and key terms identified

CASE 372.— Corporal E. Worthen, Co. B, 2d Vermont, aged 25 years, was wounded in the right thigh, at the Wilderness, May 5th, 1864, and admitted to hospital in Alexandria three weeks afterwards. Surgeon E. Bentley, U. S. V., described the wound as a "shot fracture of the upper third of the femur," but the progress of the case was not recorded. On March 17, 1865, the patient was transferred to Sloan Hospital, Montpelier, whence Surgeon H. Janes, U. S. V., contributed the following history: "The wound was caused by a minié ball, which entered the thigh in front, passed directly through and emerged posteriorly, at the lower border of the glutei muscles, comminuting the femur for about three inches. From the field the wounded man was taken to the hospital of the 2d division, Sixth Corps, at Fredericksburg, and thence by boat to Alexandria, where the limb was first adjusted, and kept in position by sand bags without extension. He stated that no other apparatus was ever used. Subsequently he had typhoid fever and erysipelas. The first fragment of bone was removed in July, 1864, and since that time about fifty pieces have come away. When admitted to Sloan Hospital the wound was still slightly discharging, but the patient was able to go about on crutches. About three months afterwards the bone had become so firmly united that he could walk a short distance without crutch or cane. When discharged from service, June 23, 1865, the patient was in good general health, and able to walk a considerable distance on smooth ground without crutch or cane, the injured limb being shortened two and a half inches and considerably deformed. There was also necrosed bone remaining, and the wound still slightly discharging." Examining Surgeon C. L. Allen, of Rutland, Vt., reported, September 24, 1866: "The right limb is now three inches shorter than the left. An opening (the wound of entrance) still exists in front of the trochanter, into which a probe passes about four inches; another opening posteriorly (the wound of exit) allows the probe to pass in about three inches. A third opening exists near the middle of the inside of the thigh, having been made by the Surgeon for the discharge of the burrowing pus." The same examiner subsequently certified that he was called on to visit the pensioner on October 23, 1870, and found him "suffering from pyæmia, resulting from the wound breaking out anew, from the effects of which he died October 25, 1870." A card photograph of the patient, taken at the Sloan Hospital, was contributed by Surgeon Janes (Card Photos., A. M. M., Vol. II, p. 22), an enlarged copy of which, taken at the Army Medical Museum (Surg. Phot. Series, No. 129), is shown in wood-cut (FIG. 139).

FIG. 139.—Result of a shot wound of upper third of femur. [From a photograph.]