Gunshot entry and exit wounds of chest
Object numberGC.13844
TitleGunshot entry and exit wounds of chest
CreatorCharles Bell (originator)
DescriptionGunshot entry and exit wounds of chest. 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: "The ball entered here, on the fore part near the stemum, and it came out near the 7th rib passing through the anterior part of the chest, on the right side, here there was no sloughing, which indicated that the ball had entered the chest, if the ball had passed under the integuments external to the ribs, there would have been more cellular membrane hanging from the wound."
This is a non-fatal chest injury, which would have come from the above left. The ball has entered near the sternum, and came out lower down on the right side of the chest. The ball probably tracked under the costal cartilages of the false ribs . As Bell says, there is little membrane protruding from the wound as would usually be seen if the ball had gone through a solid mass of superficial soft tissue. This suggests that the ball might have gone through the pleural cavity instead, which would have caused a pneumothorax (collapsed lung). While this would have passed close to the liver, there is no mention of bile leakage at the wound, suggesting that the liver was not involved.
Production date c.post 1810-01-01
Object nameGunshot wound to chest
Object categoryAnatomical, artwork
Dimensions
- Framed Height: 98 cm
Width: 85 cm
Canvas Height: 61 cm
Width: 74 cm