File:Pvt. Henry Rall (SP 82), National Museum of Health and Medicine (4604041053).jpg

Pvt. Henry Rall (SP 82), National Museum of Health and Medicine

Description: Private Henry Rall, Company d, 4th New York Heavy Artillery, who was wounded by a musket ball at Old Church, Virginia on May 30th, 1864. His left leg was removed in the spring of 1865 and the patient recovered.

History is on reverse: "Surgeon General's Office. Army Medical Museum. Photographic Series, No. 82.--Negative, No. 4280. Necrosis of the Shaft of the Left Tibia, resulting from a Gunshot Injury. Private Henry Rall, Co. D, 4th New York Heavy Artillery, aged 22 years, was wounded at Old Church, Va., May 30th, 1864, by a musket ball, which struck the spine of the left tibia, four inches below the knee, and denuded the bone of its periosteum.

On admission at Stanton Hospital, in Washington, the injured limb was found to be much swollen and inflamed. In July, free incisions evacuated a large collection of pus and revealed the existence of extensive necrosis of the shaft of the tibia.

In the spring of 1865, the sequestrum was found to be detached and moveable, and, on March 14th, an operation was performed for its removal, a sufficient aperture being chiseled in the involucrum.  This very large sequestrum is numbered 4337 in the Museum Collection.

On June 6th, 1865, Rall was discharged from service on a certificate of physical disability. The wound was not entirely healed; but the patient could walk with ease and comfort.

In July the photograph was taken. Rall was at this time engaged as a contract nurse at the Stanton General Hospital.

The particulars of the case were furnished by Benjamin B. Wilson, U.S. Vols.

Photographed at the Army Medical Museum, by order of the Surgeon General: George A. Otis, Bv't Lt. Col, and Surg. U.S.V., Curator A.M.M."

Date: July 1865

Photo ID: SP 82

Source Collection: OHA 82: Surgical Photographs

Repository: National Museum of Health and Medicine, Otis Historical Archives