Bullet wound of the skull
Object numberGC.13832
TitleBullet wound of the skull
CreatorCharles Bell (originator)
DescriptionSketch in oil, glazed, in wooden frame. Bullet wound of the skull.
One of Charles Bell's paintings of a casualty from the Battle of Corunna and the retreat between 24 December 1808-11 January 1809. Bell treated some of the force that landed back in Britain at Portsmouth. There are fifteen images in all.
Bell's notes: "Sketch of a soldier struck on the head by a musket ball, a circular portion of bone was depressed, which upon inspection consisted of minute fractured portions (which are seen in no. 7a [reference unknown]). This man had no bad symptoms and did well."
This is a relatively superficial wound, so it it can be assumed that the musket ball was at least partially spent when it stuck the head.
Bell reports that there is a circular portion of bone, which was depressed and fragmented. Typically, the surgeon would trephine near the defect, and use the hole created to elevate or remove the bony splinters. This hole, is roughly circular, but the edges are irregular, leading Crumplin and Starling to suggest that Bell was able to lift out the fragments and rounded off the opening using a lenticular knife - where the sides are sharpened, but the end is a blunt button to avoid damage to the dura and brain.
At the base of the of the wound is either depressed bone fragments, or the dura mater which may have been lacerated during the fracture. The skull injury has been accessessed through a trefoil incision, which would have been closed using roller bandages and possibly adhesive straps or sutures. The skull injury would not have closed over, but the edges of the wound would have become smooth with time.
Production date c.post 1810-01-01 - 1810-01-01
Production periodNineteenth century (early)
Object nameGunshot wound of the head
Object categoryAnatomical, artwork
Dimensions
- Framed Height: 45.5 cm
Width: 51 cm
Canvas Height: 28 cm
Width: 33 cm