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

  • William Chester Minor
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.)

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    passed h the upper edge of the fourth rib, which the ball had splintered in its It (the ball) entered the anterior portion oft! d downward and out of the posterior portion of lower lobe of the right lung, and made its exit from the chest through the space between the eighth and ninth ribs at the right of spine. The* was extensive emphysema diffused through cellular tis- sue on outside of chest, under the skin, and under the muscles, extend- i ig dov n as far as the loins. Blood also was extravasated through the muscles of the back. The] then severed (by sawing) on the right side, and the pleura found adhering to them and to the diaphragm. The cavity of chest contained some fluid, and the pulmonary cellular tissue was largely infiltrated. Blood extravasated around the anterior wound of the lung—a probe (or blow-pipe) was passed through the sinus in track of the 1 all and the Jung incised down upon it. The tissue of the lung was found to he extensively infiltrated with black blood, was hardened or condensed throughout. A bronchial tube had been cut by the ball and was much inflamed. A large branch of the pulmonary ar- tery was found to have been cut by the hall, and hence proceeded the hemorrhage which proved fatal. It may be mentioned incidentally that there was found an old but firmly united fracture of the clarvicle close to its sternal extremity. There can be no doubt that the pistol shot occasioned death by hemor- rhage from the pulmonary branch above mentioned, as the spitting of frothy blood continued during the period between his admission and death. There was very little bleeding from the external wound after his ad- mission. But according to the statements of those who saw him soon after be was shot, the hemorrhage was then profuse. Such also was the evidence of bis clothing, which was very bloody. / PNEUMOMIAL CONGESTION. AvitoiJS^, SO lioiws after: death. \vtopsyof Reuben W. Baker, a white soldier, made about thirty hours after death, April 17///, 1864. i stout man. rigor well marked. Numerous purpleish stains (hypostatic ?) on posterior sides of body, neck and arms, some on anterior and lateral surfaces. These did not leave on the slip-ht pressure made, but cut lightly across, found to lie wholly in the skin above the subcutaneous fat, appearing as minute Doints on each Side of cut. These stains could be wholly remov- ed whet) cut across by pressing the blood, as could be done read- ily into the cut, the skin recovering its whiteness.