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Actions	Gunshot wound to the abdomen Remove from selection Add to selection Object numberGC.13843 TitleGunshot wound to the abdomen CreatorCharles Bell (originator)‎ DescriptionGunshot wound to the abdomen. Sketch in oil, glazed in wooden frame. 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 in oil of a wound of the abdomen. This man was safe, the ball had not penetrated, it passed under the integuments and the slough which hangs out from the wound is very considerable. This is always the case when the ball runs among the cellular membrane. Another thing we may observe there the larger quantity of slough hangs out from the wound where the ball entered which was here on the left side. The larger quantity of slough which hangs out of the wound and the greater size of the wound at the period of sloughing always indicates that the ball entered there." Bell's assertion that the wound with the greater slough at the point of entry may seem counter-intuitive but is accurate. This case is likely caused by a spent musket ball. The ball would not have had sufficient velocity to penetrate into the abdominal cavity, and most of the residual energy from the ball would be used on impact, causing maximum damage leading to more protuberant slough. This is an example of one of the few types of abdominal wound that was survivable at this time; breach of the abdominal cavity would usually be fatal. There was still the risk of sepsis caused by bacteria brought into the wound by the missile, and hospital gangrene which could spread repaidly through the subcutaneous connective tissue. Treatment might consist of excision of the slough combined with compression dressings by roller bandage Production date c.post 1810-01-01 - 1810-01-01 Production periodNineteenth century (early) Object nameGunshot wound to the abdomen Object categoryAnatomical, artwork MaterialCanvas Dimensions Framed Height: 79 cm Width: 69 cm Canvas Height: 58.5 cm Width: 49 cm

Object numberGC.13843

TitleGunshot wound to the abdomen

CreatorCharles Bell (originator)‎

DescriptionGunshot wound to the abdomen. Sketch in oil, glazed in wooden frame. 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 in oil of a wound of the abdomen. This man was safe, the ball had not penetrated, it passed under the integuments and the slough which hangs out from the wound is very considerable. This is always the case when the ball runs among the cellular membrane. Another thing we may observe there the larger quantity of slough hangs out from the wound where the ball entered which was here on the left side. The larger quantity of slough which hangs out of the wound and the greater size of the wound at the period of sloughing always indicates that the ball entered there." Bell's assertion that the wound with the greater slough at the point of entry may seem counter-intuitive but is accurate. This case is likely caused by a spent musket ball. The ball would not have had sufficient velocity to penetrate into the abdominal cavity, and most of the residual energy from the ball would be used on impact, causing maximum damage leading to more protuberant slough. This is an example of one of the few types of abdominal wound that was survivable at this time; breach of the abdominal cavity would usually be fatal. There was still the risk of sepsis caused by bacteria brought into the wound by the missile, and hospital gangrene which could spread repaidly through the subcutaneous connective tissue. Treatment might consist of excision of the slough combined with compression dressings by roller bandage

Production date c.post 1810-01-01 - 1810-01-01

Production periodNineteenth century (early)

Object nameGunshot wound to the abdomen

Object categoryAnatomical, artwork

MaterialCanvas

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