The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1872-02-16

THE LATE DIR. A. F. MECHEM.

Account OF the cause OF ms 0e0tR, from We
Report Of the Surgeon General Of U. s. A.,
Of surgical cases in the army.
We give below the report in full, as con-
tanned in the volume above mentioned of the
case of Surgeon A. F. Mechem, U. S. A,
who died at the residence ofhis father, DR..
Richard Mechem, of this county, on last
July. The cause of surgeon Mechem' s
death excited great deal of attention at
the time among his friends, particularly
those of the medical profession, and it may
be matter of interest to such to read an
accurate and reliable history of the case.
1t is entitled Report of Case of Concus-
ion of the Spinal Cord. By Henry Lip
pincott, Assistant Surgeon, U. S. A." and
! is as follows:
Surgeon A. F. Mechem, U. S. A., was ac-
cidentally injured at Hays City, Kansas,
June 21st, 1870, by jumping from railway
train while in motion. The fall caused
partial conclusion of the spinal cord, and
violent shock to the sympathetic nervous
system. When seen, shortly afterwards,
by medical officer, slight reaction had
taken place; but there was extreme hyper
@sthesia of the chest, neck, and upper ex-
tremities, which were of cyanotic hue.
The cerebral functions were undisturbed.
The hearts action, almost suspended when
first seen, came up under the influence OF
stimulants. When reaction had fairly TAX
en- place, there was violent arterial action
at the wrist which was unaccompanied by
like action in the temporal and carotid ar
teries; in fact, the action of these vessels
conceded neither in force nor frequency
with that of the radial and ulnar arteries.
Nor was the action of the heart, at any
time after the pulsations became normal
other than healthy, although the extraor-
binary throbbing at the wrist, continued
several days. Excepting slight paralysis
of the bladder, there was no loss of motor
power. At first, the terrible hyperasthe-
STA Ct the hands and arms inclined me to
the belief that there might be fracture
dislocation or something of this kind which
by pressure upon the nerves, might posi-
bly, account for the symptoms described
However, careful examination proved
that there was neither fracture nor disloca
ton, but that the cause ofthe symptoms was
only to be found in the spinal cord and sym
pathetic nervous system. The effect ofthe
previous medication proving inefficient
! morphine was administered hypodermical
ly, and afforded much relief This was soor
repeated, selecting the region of the fourth
dorsal vertebra for the operation. The ap.
plication of cups, with hot applications o.
lead and laudanum, alternating with TO-
mentations of hops and laudanum to the
arms, hands and thorax, assisted materially
in mitigating the pain of the parts impli
Gated Some three days subsequent to the
reception Of the injury, the patient wa:
conveyed on litter to his quarters at Fort
Hays. Arriving there, the use of the NOR
phine was In a great measure dispensed
with, Indian hemp and hyoscyamus being
substituted. The hop lamentations were
superseded by local applications of chloro
form and camphor, with sulphate of NOR
phia and simple cerate. Tonics nourish
ing diet, and stimulants, contributed much
toward recovery. There was a decided
tendency to typhoid depression, but this
gave way to proper measures.
APPENDED to the report of the case is the
following note by the Editor of the work
above mentioned
Sturgeon Mechem's health remained del.
icate. In January 1871, he availed of a
leave of absence of one month, which was
extended six months longer, for the benefit
of his health He died at Pleasantville
Maryland, at his fathers home, July 14th
1871. The certificate of disability, for
warded to Adjutant General Townsend
with the appleton for extension of leave
of ABSENCE was signed by Acting Assistant
Surgeon r. B. Chase, at Fort Hays, and
clearly traces the shattered condition Of
Doctor Mechems health to the accident he
| had incurred -ED