Gunshot wound to chest
Object numberGC.13845
TitleGunshot wound to chest
CreatorCharles Bell (originator)
DescriptionGunshot wound to 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: "Sketch in oil of a man wounded in the chest, the ball entered at the back, an abscess formed on the fore part of the chest. An incision made where it is represented on the fore part disclosed the ball lying in the abscess. This was a man from Corunna, and there lay beside him, in the ward at Haslar, a man wounded in the same place, that is, having a wound on the back part and on the fore part, but the ball had penetrated the chest, and came directly through, whilst in this man the ball passed over the shoulder. This man never had spitting of blood, or any affection of the lungs, the other had bloody expectoration from the moment of receiving the wound."
Gunshot entered from the back, passed over the shoulder and lodged in the chest, resulting in an abscess. Bell's notes differentiate the diagnosis of a penetrating wound, where the ball has traversed the chest, and this type of wound, where the ball hasn't exited. This would usually be caused by a spent ball, travelling at a lower speed, and would be far less life threatening. Crumplin and Starling note that the injury is unusual that due to the low velocity it has been deflected by the scapula and tracked over the shoulder through the subcutaneous tissues to the front of the chest wall over pectoralis major, where it has caused an abscess. There is no swelling to indicate this passage, but the authors believe that this is likely to have abated during the sea voyage from Corunna, and the abscess developed later.
The abscess was treated with a bistoury, releasing the pus and allowing the ball to be removed. The patient would have a good prognosis after treatment. If the ball had passed through the cavity, the patient would be coughing up blood as a result of damage to the lung tissue, and air in the thoracic cavity would lead to pneumothorax, collapsing the lung and leading to breathing difficulties and chest pain.
Production date c.post 1810-01-01 - 1810-01-01
Production periodNineteenth century (early)
Object nameGunshot wound to chest
Object categoryAnatomical, artwork
Dimensions
- Framed Height: 80 cm
Width: 69.5 cm
Canvas Height: 58.5 cm
Width: 49 cm