Page:Recovery from the passage of an iron bar through the head.djvu/7

Rh into the brain being scarcely felt. Aside from the triangular pieces already alluded to as removed, there were two other pieces detached from the frontal bone, the anterior being two and one-half by two inches, and the posterior one and one-half by two inches in size, leaving the antero-posterior diameter of the opening in the skull fully three and one-half inches.

This examination, and the appearance of the iron which was found some rods distant smeared with blood and brain, together with the testimony of the workmen and of the patient himself, who was sufficiently conscious to say that the iron "struck his head and passed through," was considered at the time as sufficiently conclusive, not only of the nature of the accident, but the manner in which it occurred. The small pieces of bone having been taken away, a portion of the brain, an ounce or more, which protruded, was removed, the larger pieces of bone replaced, the edges of the soft parts approximated as nearly as possible, and over all a wet compress, night cap and roller. The face, hands and arms were deeply burned. The wound in the cheek was left open, the hands and arms were dressed, and the patient was left with the head elevated, and the attendants directed to keep him in that position. This was at 7½ o’clock, P.M. At 10, P.M., same evening, the dressings are saturated with blood, but the hœmorrhage is abating. Has vomited twice only, since being dressed. Mind clear. Says he "does not care to see his friends, as he shall be at work in a few days." Gives the names and residence of his friends in Lebanon, N.H. Pulse 65. Constant agitation of his legs, being alternately retracted and extended like the shafts of a fulling mill.

At 7, A.M., the 14th, has slept some during the night; appears to be in pain; speaks with difficulty; tumefaction of face considerable, and increasing. Recognizes his mother