Phineas Johnathan Horwitz Lancet Case
Phineas Jonathan Horwitz (March 3, 1822 – September 18, 1904)[1] was born in Baltimore, and graduated his medical studies from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia in 1845. Research is ongoing as to the inscription designating the gifting of the above pictured lancet case to the soon to be graduated doctor to determine whom Theo might be. Dr Horwitz was appointed as an Assistant surgeon to the U.S. Navy's Medical Department on November 18, 1847
He would hold many appointments and receive numerous accolades during his early service. While he was stationed in Philadelphia he would meet his wife Caroline Norris and they married in 1854. The couple would have seven sons and two daughters. Their son Theodore was born in 1856 and died in 1877. This is very likely the Theo mentioned on the 1876 inscription. Sadly the newly minted doctor would die soon after receiving the gift. Research is ongoing as to the exact school the younger Horwitz attended.
In 1859 Horwitz returned to the United States to become an assistant at the U.S. Navy's Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. He served there throughout the American Civil War. He was appointed Chief of the Bureau on July 1, 1865. March 3, 1884, he retired after 38 years of active service. He died on September 18, 1904, after holding an officers rank for 58 years.
The following is: A Transcript, by the Shapell Manuscript Foundation:
Written by PJ Horwitz
Gun Shot Wounds
Gun shot wounds include all injuries produced by firearms, and partake of the nature both of contused and lacerated wounds. The symptoms of a gun shot wound vary with the parts injured. When the wound is merely fleshy, and the mind of the individual wounded is not directed to the injury, the pain and inconvenience may be so inconsiderable as not too attract his notice, till his attention is called to his condition by the bystanders, or by some circumstances not connected with his injury.
If the wound is produced by a musket ball, the patient will generally first feel a slight tingling in the part, and on looking at the seat of injury perceive a hole smaller than the projected ball, generally smooth lined, inverted and the part more or less swelled, and on examining further, if the ball has made its exit there would be found another opening, which unlike the other will have its margin everted and ragged.
The nervous system of the patient may or may not sympathize with the local injury, if it showed not then the symptoms will be little other than those above described, but on the other hand should it do so, on reaching the patient he will be found very much prostrated, this surface of the body cold, and probably bathed in a clammy perspiration, his countenance will be anxious and depressed, pulse frequent, quick and small, and such other symptoms of collapse.
Should the patient present radical symptoms of injury, one of the first things to be done is to stop the hemorrhage, if there be any, and then carefully examine the wound to see that no foreign body is lodged there in, and then after bathing the flesh in cold water, apply to the wound a piece of lint on which may be spread a little cerate, and attach it to the parts by adhesive or if the surgeon prefers it he can dip a little lint in the patient's blood and in the same manner apply it to the part, and then put the part at rest, and treat the local and general symptoms as they arrive.
If on first seeing a patient who is wounded he is found to be much prostrated, the best thing to do is to try and sooth him by an encouraging manner, and assurances of his speedy recovery, and at the same to administer such stimulus as he requires, such as brandy and water, a little wine water and ammonia if necessary. Should he complain of much pain a little laudanum would be serviceable; [...] also and external warmth may be required.
If a wound of the kind above described be complicated with an injury of a nerve, an artery or a bone, both symptoms and treatments will vary, for instances. If a nerve be injured there will be great pain and tingling in part, as was in that portion of the body to which the nerve is distributed. If an artery be wounded there will be more or less hemorrhage depending upon it's size and also upon the manner in which it is wounded , or without having much external hemorrhage the parts may be found stuffed and gorged with blood. If a bone is fractured there will, in all probability, be a compound, communicated fracture, with its attendant symptoms.
Time and space will not allow me to do more than sincerely allude to the different local or particular wound with their attending symptoms. If a person has a wound on the head which penetrates the brain various phenomenon may present themselves. The patient may or may not be prostrated at once, he may have all the symptoms, if collapse, or on the contrary his symptoms may be entirely local or the symptoms may be these of confusion of the brain, or one or all the organs of special senses may be interfered with, depending upon the situation and character of the wound.
What we have to do in a case of this kind is not to meddle too much by endeavoring to extract the foreign substances, which may be lodged in or in the brains, to keep the parts cool use very light dressings and to look out for and guard against inflammation by using [...] &c.
When a ball penetrates the chest and wounds the lung, it will be known by extreme collapse of the patient by bleeding at the orifices of the wounds, by the great dyspnea , by his coughing up large arterial mouthfuls l which are frothy.
Time prevents my saying more than I already have, and the above remarks are therefore respectively submitted.
P.J. HORWITZ
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Submitted Jan. 1862
