Post mortem examinations made at Knight U.S.A. Gen. Hospital / by W.C. Minor.

  • Minor, William Chester.
Date:
1864
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Post mortem examinations made at Knight U.S.A. Gen. Hospital / by W.C. Minor. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

    17/86
    t/ ACUTE PNEUMONIA with some PLEURISY. -A-u.tops;v, 3 liovii*s alltcr death. Autopsy of John Benson, a colored soldier, who died of Pneumonia, made three hours after death, Jan. 1th, 18G4. A.. A rather stoat negro about 30 years old. A watery blister mark oh 1 eit side. 6. &M C' i 19 CA J). I I -ER IF. 1-N^i dial cavity had about two drachms of scrum. The tly distended with blood as were the venae eavae; the left auricle was small ami empty. cwi^i The left lung had adhesions of recent date on its pesterior wall,, was hepatized with the exception of its superior end, the anterior edge, and the inferior end. TiiejUiparts ai< ;ted-. On being cut into it appeared of a decided liver like color in which the open bronchial tubes appeared as white spots. No decided scrum or purulent show. The right lung appeared healthy, crepitating in every direction, but when cut into showed the bronchi filled with frothy mucous and pus, and its substance had dark red congesting points of the size of a pea. These were nearer the entrance of the bronchi into the lung. Tbaca were no recent adhesion?. 2. Tie transverse colon was immensely distended with air and great- ly flexed out of place. The ascending colon and the sigmoid flexure were also greatly distended, as also were the lesser intestines. All were however comparatively empty, save of air. The appendix vermiformis was some eight inches long. The stomach was emp'y and contracted to the size of a medium cucumber. The liver was very large and pushed high up. Its substance appeared healthy. 3, There was a little subcutanc ous effusion, caused by the blister, probabhv-over the pectoralis muscle. The high protrusion of the liver led the surgeon in charge to suppose greater disease of the right side than of the left, since there was great dullness on percussion there- Three days ago saw the case. Had sharp stinging pain in the left side, with hurried respiration and pulse above 100. Gave Calomel and Opi- um, and a sinapism which eased him for about two hours. Then found him with a creaking sound to be heard over all the ward, pulse of 120 and groaning in pain. Applied a breast plate of mustard, with Dovers powder and antimony to be taken inwardly. One hour and a half after the creaking sound had ceased, and all Respiratory sound, I thought, on that side. He was easier, and lay comparatively quiet till morning. He lay first on the right side, then on his back xhen worst, and after- wards again on the right side.