Author: United States. OfficePublisher: Rarebooksclub.com
ISBN: 9781230145006
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 56
Book Description
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1867 edition. Excerpt: ... letters from the operator and the patient. J Case XLII.--Private George W. Lemon, Co. C, 6th Maryland Volunteers, aged thirty years, had his left femur fractured, at the junction of the middle and upper thirds, by a conoids! musket ball, at the battle of the Wilderness, May 5, 1864. He was left in a shelter teuton field, and fell into the bauds of the enemy. On May 13th he was recaptured, and was sent to Fredericksburg, and thence to Alexandria, where he was received at the Third Division Hospital, on June 14th. When admitted he had diarrhoea, and was greatly emaciated. There was a bed-sore, four inohes in diameter, over the sacrum, and smaller sores over the prominences on the spine and scapula.'. The lower end of the upper fragment of the femur protruded from the wound, from which there was a profuse offensive ash-colored discharge. To check the diarrhoea, to administer suitable nourishment, and to take pressure from the bed-sores by supporting the body on air cushions, were the first matters attended to. Then moderate extension was applied to the injured limb, and a tolerably good position was maintained by means of pillows and cushions. In three weeks the bed-sores went healed, and there was a slight improvement in the general constitutional condition. Extension of the limb causing pain, it was discontinued. For the.next ten or twelve months the patient clung to life by the slenderest thread. Detached fragments of hone frequently gave rise to inflammatory swelling, abscesses in the thigh, and profuse suppuration. Yet the appetite and digestion continued to be good, and the great drain upon the system was supported unusually well. In May, 1865, it was found that the fracture was quite firmly consolidated. The patient now occasionally...
