The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-09-23
THE DAILY DISPATCH
FATAL INJURY On THF 1E.n

THE DAILY DISPATCH. |
Fatal INJURY OF THE HEAD.
tuesday. We alluded to report in the last
No. Of the AStstAoscope," !" written By Dr.. Boil
ton' OF this city, in references 10 Ia. e..a of
James n. Jackson, the young man Who !.
ceived fatal blow on the head FINN - -.
poker IN the hands Of Jordan Hatcher. 4 sl.ve.
The report Of the case 10 lengthy, filing eight |
pages Of the Stethoscope, and was drawn nm |
because the Doctor thought the Developments
Of the effects Of the injury somewhat remarka-
Die, and Secause the case appeared to apossess
sumc'ent interest," on account of the nedico.
legal and surgical questions involved" The
case presented one, where there was entire
freedom from mental disturbance, notwith-
standing aserious and fatal injury of the SUBJ
stance OF the brain. After the blow, which
feiied him to the floor, the report says:
Dung Jackson arose and ran down stairs
IN pursuit Of the negro, who had fed. He
returned and took seat in the Office of the
tobacco factory where the occurrence took
place. and perceiving that he had been injured.
seat for DR.. Cunningham. The latter, on his
arrival. observed what appeared to be an in
significant cut upon the forehead near the in>
tersection Of the mesian line with the COM
mencement of the hair. DR.. C. was informed
that the wound was received in an affray with
factory hand, and recollects distinctly being
informed that the blow was inflicted by biz
let Of u0Od-an important fact in forming an
opinion Of the nature of the wound-and the
the patient had no headache nor sick stomach,
He was then applying cole water to the wound.
DR.. G. had previously had personal dispute
with Jackson's father, who was Thompso-
niaD, and who consequently would / OF only
disapprove Of regular medical treatment, but
to that DIR. C. particularly. He therefore SIM
ply asked such questions as would enable him
to prescribe for the emergency, and accordingly
directed Jackson to continue the cold water
dressings, as probably all that was required
Having stated the uniIiendly relations between
himself and Jackson's father, and that conse.
quently it would be impossible for him to take
charge of the patient, DR.. c. left him to seek
other medical advice.
Jackson returned home, gave minute mar
rative Of the occurrence, held continual inter-
course with the family took his meals as usual
and neither complained of pain of the head
nor showed any signs of alteration of mind
during the remainder of the day. He retired
at the usual hour, but was rather wakeful du-
ring the night, and occasionally asked for
water.
In the morning he arose earlier than usual,
dressed himself, and then, for the first time,
complained of discomfort about the head. He
bfeakfasted with the family, and insisted on
going to the factory as usual. With some
difficulty he was restrained, and his friends
observing serious mental disturbance, sent
again for DR.. C. On his arrival, finding the
patient suffering from all the symptoms OF COM
nrossiou IF the hra ia ha ipmod;atolv onnnur
ced the extremely critical condition OF the pa
tient, and again refused to attend him, except
ip connection with another physician.
DIR. Deane was sent for, and an exploration
OF the wound made. Ii was then ascertained
that the skull was broken through and the
brain injured.
1t was then agreed to call in myself, with
the view of having an operation performed,
should it be ascertained to be necessary.
At in the e, ening saw him in consulta-
ton with DIR. C. He was then lying comatoss
his breathing laborioas and pulse depressed .
The exploration in thsskuli was made. The
opening admitted my fore finger, which passed
readily through corresponding opening in the
dura mater, and about half an inch into the
substance Of the brain. No fragments of bone
could be felt in or around the wound; small
portions of brain were sneared upon the hair
near the wound.
An operation was then performed. On ez.
posing the skull, the opening was found to be
about half inch in diameter. Two assures
extended downwards from it about three
fourths of an inch, Including piece of bone
about one half inch wide which was considers
ably elevated. This piece was removed by
means of Hsys saw and elevator, with the
expectation that the missiAg fragments OF bone
would be found beneath il. The under surface
of this piece, however, WAS so very narrow AS
to give no room for futthsr exploration. An
adjacent piece was then removed by the tire.
phine, and under it was found the principal
fragment which had occupied the opening in
the skull. Two or three small fragments were
removed from the opposite side between the
dura mater and skull. None were found in the
substance of the brain. The patient improved
somewhat after the opsraion-the breathing
being freer and the pulse fuller, and he an
swered question put to him: but the coma
tose condition remained.
At 10 p. nj. some reaction having taken
place, he was blsd, and purgatiye adminis-
tered.
After remaining stationary for some hours,
his condition began TO grow worse, until, near
the middle ofthe next day, more than two days
after the injury, he disd comatose.
After the patient had recovered from the
copcussion, which lasted only a few seconds,
"
about fourteen hours, and the comatose condi-
tion did not come on until about twenty four
hours had elapsed. We have here, then, the
usual history Of case Of concussion followed,
after completely rational interval, by com.
preston from eHusion. probably owing 10 this
instance TO rupture of one or more branches
OF the anterior cerebral artery within the sub
stance of the brain--an opinion which is con.
frmed by the considerable oozing of cerebral
debris through The aperture. evidently pro-
truded by force from within.
RIcHMosD AND DAsyiLLE RAILRoAD.-We
annex this report as adopted by the City Coun'
Gil Tuesday evening.
REPORT
To the Council a. to Poll on the Question
of Subscription to the Richmond and DAN
rille Railroad Company.
Ara monthly mseting of the City Council,