At long last, a curious photograph is explained : I have often seen the first presented alone, as a
At long last, a curious photograph is explained : I have often seen the first presented alone, as a sort of odd Victorian erotica, yet never felt it was intended that way. Reunited with the seldom-seen second photograph which bears the full tale of this man’s remarkable recovery, all is made clear. JOHN HAMILTON, 1st Del.Vols., aged 19 years, shot accidentally, while on picket duty at Camp Hamilton, Va., and admitted to Hygiea General Hospital the following morning, Nov 10th, 1861, with gunshot fracture of the right thigh, by conical ball, rather above the middle. The bone was considerably comminuted, but finally united at the expiration of five weeks; suppuration and exfoliation kept up with occasionally intermission until June 1862. The wounds were at times dilated with sponge tents to keep them free, constant slight extension was used and some portions of bone were removed from time to time. He was sent home in July ‘61, with the thigh sound and not shortened more than one inch. (I will just point out that due to a typing error in the original cutting there, he appears to be sent home four months before the injury occurred - shall we presume instead that ought to read July '62!) -- source link
#vintage photograph#medical treatment#early orthopaedics#19th century