09/25/2025
Photograph No. 212 - Gunshot Fracture of the Cranium caused by a Musket Ball striking with great obliquity - Hernia Cerebri
Private Edward Volk, D, 55th Ohio, was wounded at the Second Battle of Bull Run, August 30, 1862, by a musket ball, which struck the forehead at a point half an inch above the right eyebrow, comminuting and carrying away both tables of the os frontis, to the extent of one and one-fourth by two and one-fourth inches. He remained on the battle field six days, and was then conveyed to Washington, and admitted to Emory Hospital on the 6th of September. About one-third of the missile was found lodged against the fractured edge of the frontal bone. One-half of the plates which compose the frontal sinus were found in broken fragments piercing the brain, and were carefully removed. About a teaspoonful of brain matter escaped. There was no cerebral disturbance, and the patient was perfectly conscious. On September 8th, hernia cerebri appeared, the protrusion being about the size of a walnut. On the 19th the edges of the wound were healthy; the hernia had receded, but diarrheae supervened, which greatly reduced the patient’s strength. He died on the 25th of September.
Just two weeks after Private Volk’s wounding, in September 1862, Dr. Jonathan Letterman’s three-stage system for evacuation of the wounded from the battlefield debuted and drastically improved the response rate for wounded removal and their chances for survival. To help us tell the story of Civil War medicine and innovation, become a member of the Museum: https://www.civilwarmed.org/support/member/
Photo: “Photographic Atlas of Civil War Injuries”
