Dennis Sullivan

Found In:

Medical Historical Library, Cushing/Whitney Medical Library > Dennis Sullivan


15831169

Description

Title
Dennis Sullivan
Creator
Harewood General Hospital
Photographer unidentified
Contributor
Bontecou, Reed Brockway, 1824-1907
Dennis Sullivan
Harewood General Hospital
Reed B. (Brockway) Bontecou 1824-1907
Published / Created
1865
Publication Place
Washington, D.C.
Description
Dennis Sullivan, Private Co. E, 2d Va. Cav., aged 21, was admitted to the Harewood U.S.A. Gen'l Hospital, April 19, 1865, with gunshot wound of the scalp, anterior aspect, over coronal suture, denuding bone of its pericranium. Previous to his admission he was attacked with chills, which continued to occur at intervals of about twelve hours, varying somewhat till April 25th. The sulph. of quinine was freely administered in full doses but without any appreciable effect. During pyrexia, pulse ranged between 90 and 100. April 24 the lower lobe, right lung, was discovered to be slightly congested April 26th the lung was now involved, with great pain in the cardiac region. Upon auscultation the bellows sound was distinctly heard, and occasionally the regurgitant murmur, the pulse rising rapidly from 90 to 156 per minute. Ten o'clock P.M., of same day, patient became comatose. Shortly after he was trephined by Dr. R. B. Bontecou, Surg. in charge of Hospital, when the external table of the cranium was passed, pus was found to exude from diploic structure, upon the latter being perforated, the singular circumstance presented itself, that while the outer table was uninjured the internal was fractured. The opening being enlarged the portion of fractured bone was removed with the forceps, being nine lines in length, and six in breadth. During the operation the patient seemed almost entirely unconscious, in which state he remained until he died, on the next morning, April 27th, 1865. The operator discovered, as has already been anticipated, and as he had correctly diagnosed, that the patient was suffering from abscess of the brain.
Dennis Sullivan.
Harewood U.S.A. General Hospital.
R. B. BONTECOU
Surgeon U.S. Vols., In charge.
What was most remarkable in this case the patient suffered very little cerebral disturbance, never having complained of pain in the head during his entire sickness, and being perfectly rational at all times until a state of coma supervened.
Extent
7.5 in. x 5.5 in. (approximate) oval mounted on 11 in. x 9 in. board
Language
English

Collection Information

Repository
Medical Historical Library, Cushing/Whitney Medical Library
Collection Title
Binder's Title: Gunshot Wounds Illustrated

Subjects, Formats, And Genres

Format
still image
Genre
Albumen Print
Resource Type
Prints & Photographs
Subject (Geographic)
Washington, D.C
Subject (Name)
Bontecou, Reed Brockway, 1824-1907
Dennis Sullivan
Harewood General Hospital
Reed B. (Brockway) Bontecou 1824-1907
Subject (Topic)
Head—Wounds and injuries—Surgery
Medical photography—patients
Medical photography—United States—19th century
United States—History—Civil War, 1861-1865—Medical and sanitary affairs

Access And Usage Rights

Access
Public
Rights
The use of this image may be subject to the copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) or to site license or other rights management terms and conditions. The person using the image is liable for any infringement

Identifiers

Object ID (OID)
15831169

Tools