Civil War Washington

CASE 388.—Private H. Shetter, Co. D, 7th Wisconsin, aged 30 years, was wounded at Gravelly Run, March 31, 1865, and admitted to the field hospital of the 3d division, Fifth Corps, where Surgeon A. S. Coe, 147th New York, recorded: "Fracture of middle third of right thigh by a minié ball." On the second day after the injury the wounded man was moved to the Depot Hospital at City Point, and several days later he was sent to Washington. Acting Assistant Surgeon G. K. Smith reported the following history: "The patient was admitted to Armory Square Hospital April 5th. The missile had entered the external portion of the thigh, producing fracture and lodging. On April 19th, a small opening ulcerated through the skin on the inner side of the thigh, about two inches below the perinæum, through which the ball was removed by the forceps. The limb was bandaged in its whole length and laid upon a mattress, being supported by sand bags and extended by weight and pulley. On July 5th the patient was able to ride about the ward in an invalid chair, and a few days later he walked on crutches. By July 16th the bone had firmly united, with only one inch shortening, though there was still a slight discharge from the wound. The patient's general health was remarkably good." He was subsequently transferred to Harvey Hospital, Madison, and ultimately discharged from Camp Randall November 15, 1865, Acting Assistant Surgeon A. W. Greenleaf certifying to "shortening and total loss of power and strength of the limb." Examiner A. J. Ward, of Madison, Wisconsin, on September 8, 1873, reported over three inches shortening of the limb and anchylosis of the knee joint; and two years later he stated that the pensioner "will never be any better." The pensioner was paid March 4, 1879. FIG. 2 of PLATE LXII, opp. p. 192, is a copy of a photograph of the patient, taken at the Army Medical Museum on July 16, 1865. (Surg. Phot. Series. No. 71, A. M. M.)