Ghinshot Fractures of the Upper Limb. 97 



painting by Sir Charles Bell of Captain from whom the 



previous specimen was taken. 



The painting shows where the bullet entered in front. 



B. C. XVII. 18. 



3. 146. Gunshot Wound of the Humerus.— Oil painting by 



Sir Charles Bell of a soldier, wounded as above at Coiunna. 



The ball struck the head of the os humeri, shattered it,, 

 passed through, and wounded a rib. Amputation was per- 

 formed, but the patient sank from loss of blood. 



B. C. XVII. 22. 



3. 147. Gunshot Wound of the Head and Tuberosities of 



the Humerus. — Left humerus — muscles cleaned off and in 

 spirit, showing the above. 



Sir Charles Bell says : " This is the case which gave rise to my 

 reflections on the propriety of the excision of the bone. The patient was 

 one of those soldiers brought home from Corunna to Haslar Hospital, 

 while I was there studying the subject. When I put my hand on this 

 man's shoulder the bone felt like a bag of sand. 'Now,' said the operator, 

 ' this we consider a proper case for amputation at the shoulder joint ;' and 

 he proceeded to the operation, which he performed with remarkable 

 dexterity. But afterwards, when I had an opportunity of reflecting on a 

 variety of the same class of cases, I saw the impropriety of this proceed- 

 ing." (See " Operative Surgery," second edition, page 473, and the expla- 

 nation of Plates iv. and vii.) 



The head of the humerus is split off, and the tuberosities 

 and upper part of the shaft are severely comminuted. One 

 large fragment of the shaft has been loosened but not detached. 



B. C. XVII. 21. 



3. 148. Gunshot Wound of the Humerus.— Photograph from 



the drawing by Sir Charles Bell of the patient from whom the 

 foregoing specimen was taken. G. C. 3558. 



