The Placer herald., 1861-11-30
Gun Shot Wounds. Interesting Facts.

Professor Rapnatl, o' Ne" 1ofk, recently
delivered a very interesting lecture on the
above subject. 1t is Of some importance to
both citizens and soldiers, and the following
SYNOPSIS AT the present time will not lie out
,f place: The Professor explained the diff
ference between the wounds of Kit and en-,
trance. He remarked that when a part OF
the body was struck bv a round ball, such as
was use in smooth bore musket, the point
Of entrance presented the appearance Of a
small, roand hole, with jagged edges, and
The lips of the wound inverted There was
generally dlscolorance around the wound,
which looked smaller than the ball by which
it was Inflicted The wound made in the
exit of the bal supposing it t" have pas
s-d throuu WAS in the form Of a : it
There was no d>cnloralion at the point OF
exit. thai at tie entrance being caused ly
the powder alheriny to HE ball, and being
a> L were, wipel of when entering the
wound In very short time, however, IN
fanaion wouI,i set in, when the appearance
# ,le wnund became entirely changed, and
IN few DAYS it would look much larLer.-
il the vnuul WAS Inflicted I,y a rano'Iital
l,a s,~is as were now in us, the entrance
aud exit wounds were alike, that was, if the
tail had not lost any of lis momentum;
bat should ii strike Il bone or >inrw, 1t wou'd
lose its velocity, and the exit would be very
large ant jagged, and altogether more
irighiful wound. The symptoms OF Gun
shot wound we very varying. In regard
to the pain. A person might receive a serious
and fatal wound without feeling any pain
also ,,f Main boi,,, f,lf
in different part of the body to that struck.
A case was related of a soldier in the Crime
an war, who, in an engagement, experienced
a severe pain in the torealn. Believing his
arm TO he shattered, he put it in sling,
and retired to the rear, where the hospital
was located. Arriving at the hospital, he
found his mouth filled with blood, and on
examination it was found that he had recelv
ed a severe wound in the neck which had
severed the arteries connected with the arm,
hence the pain in that spot. The pain OF a
gun shot wound is never very acute, but was
generally similar to a sharp blow Of a lance.
In regard to what is termed the "shock'' of
the wound, much depended on the state of
the mind of the patient and the place OF in
jury. The effects of a comparatively trltlng
wound on timid person might destroy him,
while on person used to battIe-an old
veteran-t would have very slight effect.
A wound was much more likely to produce
death in person addicted to inlemperance
than in temperate person The fact OF a
victory or defeat was apt to exert great
influence on The death of Il soldier wounded
in battle. The most serious part OF the
wound was the hemorrhage. There was
seldom any primary hemorrhage, except
where large artery had been severed, when
the patient might bleed to death in few
seconds, but the secondary hemorrhage must
be guarded against it was Of the utmost
importance tha, every officer in the army
should know the course of the large arteries,
and many lives might be saved ny arrestlng
hemorrhage. The first thing to be done IN
treating a gun shot wound was to cause a
reaction by applying stinulants to the parts
affected. The hemorrhage should then be
arrested either by compression or legation
Of the artery, or by applying cold water to
the bleeding parts. Pounded ice was one OF
the best things for that purpose. A strong
solution of alum, sulphate of copper, or pre-
suIphate of iron, were also adapted for ar
resting hemorrhage. The ball should then
be extracted, if possible There were grea'
many theories in regard to the extraction o.
balls. The Professor advised that IN all IN
stances balls should be extracted when th'
injury by the extlaAion would not be Sreate
Than mig ght ensue from retention OF It.
There were instances when no serious conse
quences were felt when !he ball had beer
allowed to remain in the wound, but the!
We're rare. The medical Superintendent, 0
The Hotel des Invaides, in Paris, stated ina
out of 1000 cases Of this kind only IL or L.
We're entirely well, while 200 of them SUI
lered GREAT inconyenienca from changes Q