Camp Verde, A.T. [Arizona Territory]
March 3rd 1871
Asst. Surgeon G.A. Otis, U.S.A.
Curator, Army Medical Museum
Washington D.C.
Sir:
In answer to your letter of January 30th requesting specimen in the case of Pvt. Kinnear, I regret to state that the specimen cannot be procured; it was buried with the intention of being forwarded to the Army Med. Museum if desired, but the coyotes unearthed it, and no trace of it can be discovered.
Pvt. Kinnear was an unfavorable subject for operation, having received treatment for chronic dysentery for six months previous to the accident, he was also addicted to the use of alcoholic liquors.
The accident occurred about four miles from the Post, and he was not seen by the Doctor until four hours subsequent to the injury.
On examination, the knee joint was found to be seriously involved, the inner condyle fractured, and the soft parts badly lacerated, his condition was bad; the operation was delayed for some time to enable him to recover from the shock.
Amputation was performed, the lateral flap method, he did not completely rally from its effects, he died ninety-nine hours after, from the conjoined effects of shock hemorrhage and pyaemia.
Very Respectfully,
Your Obt Sert.
A.F. Steigers
Act. Asst. Surg. U.S.A.
