The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-04-11
MILL A GuysHOT WOUND IN THE
BRAIN ALWAYS Prove FATAL'

WILL A GUNSHOT WOUND IN the
BRAIN ALWAYS PROVE FATALs
Mr.. Carruth, the editor who was shot through
the brain, il still living. This recalls TO our mem
ory IN instance reported in medical 1oufnaa u
a Confederate soldier who received slmn.1
wound during the war, and, although OWING "
undue excitement, he subsequently dieo' yes nus
partial recovery was great wonder 10 sne anna1s
Of medicine.
Sydenham the Wise, once said 70 eenss' s.s1
vho wished Is know what books he shOuld stuoy
to become . physician: BY al means, my ae.s
SIR, read DON Quixote. Now az. Lo,'os, "a nn ",,
nav especial attention to his wonderful delinea-
ton Of the character OF Mr.. Noivtier, the
oil man Of 1887, who,. though paTaiyzed
il every limb. yet with unc,onoeo .,o ama
firm min, With s Ss Outer World q
man: but by the expression Of the eye, the WINK
Of the eye, he could communicate everything ne
wished to say or do. On an occasion, Hmf r..
never shall forget, the remembrance OF TINS A1e-
ike sketch lit was surely drawn nom nature!
enabled me almost to save human ex,stence'
that Of brave boy, stricken in the head ~ u
front, like the old koman; but the iates decreed
otherwise. and he perished miseTsoE f..rroor Of
q day Of exhausting labors spent in visiting our
wounded. I went to see Col. Yell, OF Arkansas.
brave man! how well he bore the sunerngs ..
his long illness He was wounded N 3otn .ess'
unhappiiy. took an Inflammation at the knee, and
be died. It is not, however. Of this much re-
gretted gentleman that would speak but OF
yoor Arkansas private whom saw, .hls BACK 70
EARTH his face to heaven" coucned n .ne s. 4he
look and attitude Of this young soldier that I'M.
pressed me very deeply, even on that day OF
sensations. As / approached and asked his COM
panions Of his condition, they said
Ah! sir you can 90 noa9nS i eva r aimee he
snre thst he is unconscious?" she can't speak,
sir. is parslyzed, hardly can swallow 2 spoonful!
Of water, and takes no notice OF anything' 90, o.
med him vet more attentively, and perceived 30
peculiar an expression OF the eye, such longing
TO make himself understood, such mute cry
for succor, that at once thought OK OLD Novaer,
and eaid friend they .ei do me- Va. xst you
look as though you would speak, but cannot; Il
upon this he winked both eyes. "My friend,
I am = surgeon, anxious to help you 40 you
wish me to take charge OF you il so, wink both
ewes twice. and will nurse you as 3 brother"
Instantly he gave the mute yet eloquent reply
and two big tears, such as the brave may some
times she'd came rolling down his cheek. Ihere
were many in that room, ana some IA !st any
wounded vet all were 80 much interested II TINS
strange colloquy that they forgot TOR awhile their
own sufferings in IN agony Of suspense Tor their
compapion in arms. None could refrain from
tears. But to GO, on. l At once proceeded i1 to
by the free application Of water removed the
filthy bandages that enveloped the head:
A Rhastly wound was discovered IN the ioTe-
head, over the left oribital ridge. and extending
somewhat beyond The medal ne 70 me f fe
LEFT 70 right It was fattened by the conclusion.
and falling from the wound when he was taken
from the field, was shown me by his friends.
Both tables of the os frontis were shivered,
making frightful chasm, which, as the poor fell
low had lain on his back, was full Of bad smelling
pus. dissolved brain tissue, spicul4 OF bone ana
ciots Of blood. took his head in my hands and
emptied this foul accumulation Of matters as from
Q cup, and sitter cleansing the wound tnoroughly'
= ,plied the usual water dressings, to be con-
stantly removed during the night. and ordered
him to be kept lying on the left side, so that no
REORGANIZATION could take place. He seemed
greatly relieved, ana when asked II ne wished
a litter sent the next morning a. daylight g
might be constantly watched and well cared for,
he winked a cheerful acquiescence. The paraiy-
sis was discovered to be confined to the right
| side, and as above stated, the wound was to the
left Of the medal line. .
Next morning he was removed accordingly,
and promptly bled and purged (enemata and
broken doses OF calomel bling used.) The
wound was carefully freed from spiculR, mar
closely cut, position on the LETT side, the head
being well elevated, was constantly maintained.
and he cold water dressings asaidnously applied.
On the evening o. the following day there was
Of he lstS, he resained The power Of speech,
and the hemplegia wholly disappe,,rssd Ia Fer S;r
food. aud appesrs to be rapidly recov-
ering; but, whether owing to the excite.
ment produced BY the crowds q women, who, in in
spite of every precaution. thropged to see 80 60
saturated with erisipeiatous infection, he finally
relapsed. Initiative pus sat in the lips Of the
wound became swollen, hernia cerebri followed.
and at last the ephacnlated brain tissue, mixed
with blood, burst forth, and ran down his cheeks
in torrents: He soon persisted, horrible and
sad spectacle but, strange to say, preserved bis
consci ousness almost to the last moment, and all
his senses complete and entire. No post-mortem
was made.