Indian Wars:  Report of Surgical Cases

A Report of Surgical Cases
Treated in the Army of the United States
From 1865 to 1871
by George Alexander Otis
Assistant Surgeon, United States Army
Washington, August 17, 1871
 

Today's Internet provides an amazing wealth of information, including historical books, photographs, paintings and other documents and artifacts that simply were not available to the public a few decades ago.  From this trove of treasures comes the following information - reports written by Regimental surgeons regarding the individuals they had to treat in the years following the Civil War.  These reports not only reveal some of the mishaps that commonly befall the hapless soldier in the performance of his duties, but also provide documentation of the locations the Regiment served and conditions of their daily lives in the 1860's.

These reports show the Fourteenth in Arizona from 1866 to May, 1869, then in July, 1869 in Nashville, Tennessee, and Jeffersonville, Indiana and Lebanon, Kentucky in 1870.  November, 1870 places Company F in Omaha Barracks, Nebraska


Extracts from Reports of Sick and Wounded at Fort McDowell, Arizona Territory, April and May, 1866.  By Charles Smart, Assistant Surgeon, U.S.A.

Private Andrew Snowdon, Co. B, 3rd Battalion, 14th Infantry, was one of a party surprised by Apaches, March 22, 1866, while en route from Maricopa Wells to Fort Goodwin.  He was struck on the back of the head by an arrow, which penetrated his skull.  It is said that he was nine days in traveling to Maricopa Wells from the place where he was wounded.  On his arrival there he is stated to have been weak and fatigued, but with his intelligence unimpaired.  He believed the arrow-head to be within the cranium, as in pulling on the shaft after the reception of the injury, nothing but the shaft came away.  On or about the 10th or 12th of April, he lost his appetite, felt considerable nausea, and appeared to those around somewhat dull and stupid.  He rapidly grew worse, so that it was considered advisable to send him to the post for treatment.  He was placed on a hay wagon, and made the journey to Salt River on that conveyance - a distance of thirty miles.  At this time I was notified concerning the case, and instructed to proceed to Salt River with our ambulance for him.  I found him with a full pulse, slow, and somewhat hard; his mental faculties much clouded; hearing distinctly, and giving answer to every question, although the answer seldom contained the information desired.  He tried to remember his name, but could not.  He was troubled with a very persistent vomiting.  On April 19th, he was received into the post hospital; an active cathartic was administered, his head shaved, and cold dressings applied.  During the day his stupor increased to such an extent that the sharpest tone failed to make an impression on him.  His pulse 50, full and hard; vomiting much abated.  On the 20th, the purgative was repeated, as it had as yet been without effect.  The scalp was examined, discovering a small tumefaction, in which was an ill defined sense of fluctuation, situated over the parietal side of the left occipito-parietal suture.  Pressure exercised upon it caused the issue of a small quantity of serous matter from a point in the cicatrix of the arrow-wound.  This was enlarged, and a probe passed into it was made to feel along a fissure in the bone, when it struck upon something metallic.  The cranium was laid bare by a crucial incision, and with considerable difficulty a hoop-iron arrow-head, one and three-quarter inches long, and half an inch in breadth, was withdrawn from the brain.  About a drachm of pus followed it in its exit.  During the procedure the patient lay quiet, except when at times, without any assignable cause, he would burst into a violent scream.  After the operation, which was not noticed previous to it, the right side was observed to be paralyzed.  April 21st:  Pulse as before.  Insensibility great.  Paralysis of right side more marked; features drawn to wounded side.  Has not eaten anything since his admittance, nor for several days previous to that time.  Passes his urine when the nurse solicits him, by the application of the urinal.  Bowels unmoved, a cathartic enemy was administered.  22d:  Seems slightly improved.  Enema brought away nothing, but during the afternoon of yesterday he had a large involuntary passage.  Has eaten nothing; swallows a mouthful of tea occasionally.  Pulse 50.  24th:  Has eaten nothing - no improvement - pulse less full, and more compressible.  26th:  Yesterday, took a few teaspoonfuls of custard.  In afternoon, was feverish and delirious.  Enema administered.  Features sunken and distorted.  27th:  Much improved.  Has eaten considerably of a farinaceous preparation.  Face more regular in expression.  Pulse 54, softened.  Answers questions readily, but not to the purpose.  Cannot remember his name.  30th:  Steady improvement.  Has eaten well every day since last report.  Pulse 68, Hemiplegia unobservable.  Has remembered name, and at times takes an interest in what is going on in the ward.  Wound of operation healing kindly.

During the first week of May he continued to improve; caution concerning diet and an occasional purge being all that was considered necessary.  On the 7th, after eating heartily of some soup, which I afterward learned to have been "somewhat greasy," he became slightly feverish, and during the succeeding night did not rest well.  On the 8th, skin hot; pulse 63, hard, a little headache, and occasionally sickness at stomach.  Cold to head ordered, and an enema administered.  From this time he gradually grew worse, complaining much of pain in the head, and stiffness in the back of the neck, while on the 11th and 12th, muscular tremors were the most prominent objective symptom.  Unconsciousness set in on the morning of the 13th, and he died quietly about six hours thereafter.  Post-mortem examination seven hours after death.  Body muscular, rigid, not emaciated.  A firm cruciform cicatrix on the posterior and left side of scalp.  The centre of this cicatrix adherent by firm fibers to bone beneath.  In the bone almost corresponding in situation with the center of the cicatrix, was a slit half an inch long, and one eighth of an inch wide, filled in with recently formed soft tissue, which broke down before the handle of a scalpel.  From the upper end of this slit a fissure one inch and a half in length, extended to the inter-parietal suture, while form its other extremity another fissure stretched in curved direction toward the ear two inches.  The dura mater was adherent to the margin of the slit in the bone, and to the soft tissue which filled it in; but external to the membrane there was no collection of matter.  In the posterior lobe of the left cerebral hemisphere, the track of the arrow-head was followed downward, forward, and inward, communicating with the posterior cornu of the left ventricle.  The brain tissue, to the extent of three-quarters of an inch around the track as a center, was softened and disorganized.  The track of the arrow-head was filled with a thick pus, which had extended thence into the ventricle.  The right ventricle was also filled, as were the sub-arachnoidean spaces.  No other organ examined.


Account of Two Cases of Arrow-Wounds occurring near Boxer's Ranche, Arizona Territory.  By P. Middleton, Assistant Surgeon, U.S.A.

Private William Hardwick, Co. C, 14th Infantry, aged 45 years, was wounded in an engagement with Indians on November 11, 1867, by arrows, in the left thigh and right arm.  One missle penetrated the rectus femoris muscle at the centre, and passed upward and inward to the bone.  Another arrow entered through centre of belly of biceps muscle, and penetrated to the bone.  I administered chloroform, enlarged the wound of the thigh, and removed the arrow on the field.  On the following day, he was admitted to the post hospital at Camp Whipple, Arizona Territory.  On December 15th, both wounds had healed, but the patient had only slight use of his leg.  He was, however, steadily improving, and on December 28th, was able to walk on crutches.  He was returned to duty in January, 1868.


Report of an Arrow-Wound of the Arm, followed by Aneurism.  By J.N. McChandless, M.D., Acting Assistant Surgeon.

 Private James Burridge, Co. C, 14th Infantry, aged 22 years, was wounded near Bower's Ranche, Arizona Territory, November 11, 1867, by an arrow, which struck the arm about two inches above the elbow.  Traumatic aneurism followed, and on January 3d, digital compression was employed, and continued for twenty-four hours.  Before compression, the tumor was about the size of a pigeon's egg, soft and pulsating.  One week after the compression, it was reduced to half the size.  On January 15th, the compression was repeated for twenty-four hours, and on January 18th, the tumor was almost imperceptible.  The patient was returned to duty January 20, 1868.


Memorandum of an Arrow-Wound of the Face.  By P. Middleton, Assistant Surgeon, U.S.A.

Private William Drum, Co G, 14th Infantry, aged 20 years, was wounded in a fight with Apache Indians on November 11, 1867.  One arrow entered over the malar bone of the left side of the face, passed along the lower border of the orbit to within half an inch of the nose.  Another arrow entered through the tendon of the latissimus dorsi muscle on the right side, and passed directly backward toward the spine under the deep muscles, penetrating two and a half inches.  He was admitted to the post hospital at Fort Whipple, Arizona Territory, on the following day.  On November 19th, I cut down upon the arrow head in the side, and removed it.  The parts healed by the first intention, and on December 3, 1867, the patient was returned to duty.


Remarks on a Case of Fracture of the Clavicle.  By P. Middleton, Assistant Surgeon, U.S.A.

Private F. Burnham, Co. D, 14th Infantry, was admitted to the hospital at Camp Whipple, Arizona Territory, February 2, 1868, with a fracture of the middle third of the left clavicle , caused by falling from a mule.  The apparatus of Levis was immediately applied, and continued until February 27th, when the fracture was found to be fairly united, with scarcely any deformity, and the apparatus was removed and a bandage to support the arm was substituted, with instructions to exercise the arm daily.  On February 29, 1868, the patient was convalescent.


Report of Death from Multiple Wounds, most of which were from Arrows.  By W. H. Smith, M.D., Acting Assistant Surgeon.

Private Robert Nix, Co. G, 14th Infantry, was wounded near Camp Lincoln, Arizona Territory, in October, 1868.  He received a gunshot flesh-wound in the upper portion of left arm; a slight cut from an arrow in the left ear; two flesh-wounds from arrows, from one of which the hemorrhage was profuse; two arrow wounds in the right knee, the synovial membrane having been penetrated, but no bones broken; one gunshot wound in the right elbow, but not through the joint; and another through the metacarpal bone of the third finger of the right hand.  During the eight hours following, while being conveyed to camp, he became very weak from loss of blood, and riding part of the time on a horse with a comrade, and the remainder in a Government team.  He suddenly died the next morning.  Decided symptoms of fatty degeneration, with dilatation and hypertropy of heart, had been previously observed.


Note of a Gunshot Wound of the Hand.  By P. Middleton, Assistant Surgeon, U.S.A.

Sergeant F. W. Bryant, Co. G, 14th Infantry, aged 21 years, was wounded at Camp Whipple, Arizona Territory, on December 17, 1868, by the accidental discharge of a pistol;  the ball entered to the right of the median line, midway between the metacarpo-phalangeal articulation and the articulation of the first and second phalangeal bones, and emerged directly opposite, fracturing the first phalangeal bone without injuring the tendons.  He was admitted to the post hospital, where the finger was placed in a splint and cold-water dressing applied.  He recovered and was returned to duty in February, 1869.


Report of a Fatal Gunshot Wound of the Small Intestines.  By H. H. Smith, M.D., Acting Assistant Surgeon.

Private Joseph Clark, Co. C, 14th United States Infantry, was shot by Indians four miles from Camp Verde, Arizona Territory, on May 6, 1869.  The ball entered just over the anterior superior spinous process of the ilium on the left side, and, passing across and upward, lodged in the right hypochondrium, after perforating the peritoneum and small intestines.  He ran or walked half way into camp, and was carried the remainder of the way on a hand-litter.  He never recovered from the shock, and his stomach was so irritable that he vomited frequently and could retain nothing.  At length, being able to retain a dose of morphia which was administered in a small powder with a few grains of prepared chalk, he slept a considerable portion of the night.  Toward morning he took and retained wine and water, and later was able to retain brandy and water; but he could not be induced to take food in any form.  He had a passage of feces and blood.  There were slight spots and streaks of blood in the vomited matter.  The patient died on the morning of May 7, 1869.


Report of a Gunshot Flesh-Wound of the Thigh.  By James F. Weeks, Surgeon, U.S.A.

Private Walter R. Oliver, 14th Infantry, aged 21 years, received a gunshot wound on July 15, 1869, from a conoidal ball, which entered at the front of the left thigh, and passed directly through the limb on the inner side of the bone.  He was admitted to the post hospital at Nashville, Tennessee, on the same day.  Simple dressings were applied.  He was returned to duty on August 21, 1869.


Account of a Case of Gunshot Fracture of the Humerus.  By W. H. Hopper, Acting Assistant Surgeon.

At Lebanon, Kentucky, August 21, 1869, Private Alexander C. Moore, Co. I, 14th Infantry, aged 23 years, was wounded by a conoidal ball, which passed through the inferior extremity of humerus, splitting off the external condyle, and lodged in the muscular tissue on the anterior surface of the arm.  He was admitted to the regimental hospital.  Simple dressings were applied and the wound was daily injected with solution of carbolic acid, and covered with lint saturated with the same.  September 30th, union of the fractured ends had taken place, and the wound healed with scarcely any suppuration.  He was discharged January 21, 1870.  There was partial anchylosis of the elbow-joint.


Note of a Case of Recovery after Perforation of the Chest by a Pistol Ball.  By J. F. Weeds, Surgeon, U.S.A.

Private Walter R. Oliver, Co. D, 14th United States Infantry, aged 21 years, was wounded on September 11, 1869, by a pistol-ball.  The missile entered between the posterior border of the scapula and the vertebrae, two inches above the inferior angle, and escaped two and a half inches below the middle of the clavicle, passing directly above the base of the heart.  He was admitted to the post hospital at Nashville, Tennessee, on September 11th, and simple dressings were applied to the wounds.  He is still in hospital awaiting discharge on surgeon's certificate of disability.


 Pistol-shot Wound implicating both the Thoracic and Abdominal Cavities.  By J. F. Weeds, Surgeon, U.S.A.

In October, 1869, at Nashville, Tennessee, Private Frank Gibhart, Co. D, 14th United States Infantry, was accidentally shot by the officer of the day, while the latter was suppressing a disturbance among the prisoners in the guard-house.  The deceased was one of the guard.  The bullet (a conical ball fired from a 5-inch Smith & Wesson's pistol) entered the back two and a half inches to the left of the fourth dorsal vertebra and lodged the same distance to the right of the xiphoid cartilage, passing through the superior portion of the right lobe of the liver, the diaphragm, and opening the right pleural cavity.  He died in a few minutes.


Note relative to a Wound of the Scalp.  By James F. Weeds, Surgeon, U.S.A.

At Ash Barracks, Nashville, February 1, 1870, Frank Morton, corporal, Co. K, 14th Infantry, when intoxicated, received, by falling from a railroad tressel-work, on a rough stone, a severe wound on the left side of the head, six inches long, over the parietal and temporal bones.  He was admitted to post hospital the next day, and a lotion of a solution of carbolic acid on lint was applied.  He recovered and returned to duty February 24, 1870.


Account of a Gunshot Wound of the Testicles.  By W.N. McCoy, M.D., Acting Assistant Surgeon.

Private Frank Meyer, Co. E, 14th United States Infantry, aged 24 years, was wounded in a brawl on February 3, 1870, by a pistol bullet which passed through the testicles.  He was admitted to the post hospital at Jeffersonville, Indiana, on February 4th.  Simple dressings were applied.  He was returned to duty on February 21, 1870.


Mention of Scalp Wounds with Laceration.  By W. H. Hopper, M.D., Acting Assistant Surgeon.

Private Dennis G. Milane, Co. I, 14th Infantry, aged 26 years, received, by a club, lacerated and contused wounds of the scalp, at Lebanon, Kentucky, April 16, 1870.  He was admitted to the post hospital on the same day.  Simple dressings were applied.  He returned to duty on June 20, 1870.


Report of a Gunshot Wound of the Chest, having a Successful Termination.  By F. Meacham, Assistant Surgeon, U.S.A.

Private Thomas Stewart, Co. F, 14th United States Infantry, a prisoner at Omaha Barracks, Nebraska, was shot through the upper lobe of the right lung, while attempting to escape from a sentinel, November 7, 1870.  The ball entered near the union of the third rib with its cartilage in front, and emerged between the fifth and sixth ribs, just below the anterior border of the right scapula.  When brought to the post hospital, about half an hour after the reception of the injury, he was suffering very severely from pain and shock, the pulse was scarcely perceptible, feet and hands cold, countenance dusky, and the whole body covered with a profuse cold perspiration.  Air was escaping from the anterior wound with every expiration.  The sputa was streaked with blood, and blood was escaping from the lower opening.  The anterior wound was closed with adhesive plaster and the posterior wound covered with lint to allow the escape of blood.  Brandy and morphia were freely administered, and hot applications made to the upper and lower extremities.  The patient rallied from the shock, and slept well during the night.  On the next day the hemorrhage had entirely ceased, and he was feeling very comfortable.   He continued to improve, and, on November 15th, was able to sit up in bed.  On November 29th, having absented himself from hospital for several hours without leave, he was returned to the guard-house, where the wound was dressed daily for about four weeks, at the expiration of which time he had entirely recovered and was returned to duty.



Name / Rank / No / Regiment / Nature of Injury / Parts Removed / Remarks

Franklin, A / Private / Co. K / 14th Infantry / Bitten by a soldier / Left thumb / Returned to duty August 20, 1870.

Murphy, Michael / Private / Co. E / 14th Infantry / Frost-bite / All the toes of both feet and the ends of the metatarsal bones of the right foot / Returned to duty June 12, 1871.



Acknowledgements:
Indian Wars:  A Report of Surgical Cases
Copyright © 2012  14th Infantry Regiment Association
Last modified: November 01, 2012