Need help on a medical question

[eastwood86]

Hi everyone, I am researching a Union veteran from the 97th IN, George Booth. He died in December 1863 from gangrene in a hospital in Evansville, IN. I have some information on his medical history from Fold3, where it indicates he was shot in the right foot, accidental. His Find-a-Grave bio says the gangrene was a result of amputation, but I haven't been able to confirm there was one. In the Union death records, it shows his cause of death as "Gangrene from V.S.[Latin term for gunshot wound] of Leg." My question, then, is would the record have said gangrene from foot amputation if he'd had one? Thanks. I'd like to find the original hospital information but I'm not certain it still exists anywhere.

 

[gary]

Foot was amputated, leg developed gangrene afterwards. That'll be five cents please (Lucy price).

 

[eastwood86]

Foot was amputated, leg developed gangrene afterwards. That'll be five cents please (Lucy price).

Why is it assumed it was amputated? That's my conundrum. If a guy had an amputation, then got gangrene from it, would the record not reflect there was an amputation performed?

 

[huskerblitz]

Hi everyone, I am researching a Union veteran from the 97th IN, George Booth. He died in December 1863 from gangrene in a hospital in Evansville, IN. I have some information on his medical history from Fold3, where it indicates he was shot in the right foot, accidental. His Find-a-Grave bio says the gangrene was a result of amputation, but I haven't been able to confirm there was one. In the Union death records, it shows his cause of death as "Gangrene from V.S.[Latin term for gunshot wound] of Leg." My question, then, is would the record have said gangrene from foot amputation if he'd had one? Thanks. I'd like to find the original hospital information but I'm not certain it still exists anywhere.

View attachment 589541

You can get medical records from the National Archive. But it's hit and miss what is contained in his file.

 

[huskerblitz]

Here's another potential lead:
Check Indiana State Digital Archives: The Indiana State Archives or the Indiana Historical Society hold detailed Civil War hospital registers and descriptive rolls that frequently note specific injuries or diseases.

 

[gary]

Why is it assumed it was amputated? That's my conundrum. If a guy had an amputation, then got gangrene from it, would the record not reflect there was an amputation performed?

Most gunshot wounds were treated with amputation. Quick 'n dirty w/emphasis on dirty.

 

[Nathan Stuart]

Apparently he died on 23rd December, 1863 at a hospital in Evansville.

Is the date of the gunshot wounding of his foot known?

 

[eastwood86]

Apparently he died on 23rd December, 1863 at a hospital in Evansville.

Is the date of the gunshot wounding of his foot known?

Yes, his record reads: "Dec 4-9, G.S.W. right foot, accident, Dec 9-12, 63 (diagnosis not stated), Dec 12-23,63, G.S.W. right foot, died Dec 23, 63. No additional record of disability"

Based on the record I have, I am not even sure of where he was when it occurred. He was sick in the hospital in La Grange, TN from Apr to Oct, but I'm not sure if he rejoined his unit when he was wounded or if he somehow got accidentally shot while in the hospital.

 

[Library Lady]

Here's another potential lead:
Check Indiana State Digital Archives: The Indiana State Archives or the Indiana Historical Society hold detailed Civil War hospital registers and descriptive rolls that frequently note specific injuries or diseases.

For the Indiana Historical Society, the easiest thing to do would probably be to call their reference desk directly. The Researcher's Guide does say that items are available for the 97th Indiana, but it doesn't appear that they have been digitized yet, and there is nothing specific in the description to indicate medical records.

It is expected that this listing will be in progress for the foreseeable future owing to the extensive collection materials housed at IHS. Questions about any regiments that have not yet been added to this completed guide can be directed to our Reference Department by emailing Reference, by calling our Reference Desk at (317)234-0321, or by referring to the Civil War Researcher's Guide to see if we have materials related to that regiment.

Over at the Indiana State Archives, this is what's been transcribed of his muster card. If you want more (and if there is more), you are referred to FamilySearch.com which requires an account, but the copy is free.

https://researchindiana.iara.in.gov/DigitalRecords/Detail.html?WORK_FILENAME=NDX00114&WORK_RECORD_ID=17127

This is the deal with hospital records:

Hospital Records

During the war, the Adjutant General of Indiana documented the efforts of the Indiana Military Agency/Indiana Sanitary Commission to provide medical care for Indiana troops in the field. Among these records are the hospital registers for individual regiments and for army general hospitals. The registers are not indexed, but are typically arranged by regiment and date.

It looks like the easiest way to request assistance from the Indiana State Archives for questions of a genealogical/historical nature is by E-mail.

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www.in.gov