The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-15

story went the rounds Of the papers some
months since of man at work on the Burlington
and Rutland railroad, who had an iron bar driven
through his head by premature explosion. The
account though well authenticated, was generally
discredied. The last number Of the American
Journal Of the Medical Science has full and au-
thentc history of the case from the time when it
occurred on the 18th September, lS4S, to January
of the present year, when the patient visited Bos-
ton, and was examined by various medical bodies
and distinguished practitioners. We copy the
leading features for the qualification Of our readers:
"The sufferer in the case, Phineas p. Gage, a
young man OF twenty i've, shrcwd and intelligent,
contractor or head workman on the Rutland and
Burlington Railroad, had charged with gunpowder
hole in the rock, and directed his assistant TO fill
IN the sand; supposing which done, he dropped his
tanping-irOn into the hole To drive the sand home
IL happened, however, through some inadvcrtence,
that the sand had been poured in and the iron
striking fire upon the rock, the powder in
iiamcd, and the accident produced by the iron be-
ing blown out like ramrod shot from gun. The
tanping-l iron was round rod, three feet seven
inches IN length and an inch and a quarter in d.
ameter, taperng to point at the top, and weigh
ing thirteen and quarter pounds
The whole of this immense weight and length
this bar or bludgeon of iron-was driven through
Cages face and brain, he stopped the hole
in the act Of tamping the sand. Ii struck him on
the left cheek just behind and below the mouth,
lutO Lne brain Dfnlnd the eit eye, paH6-
ing from the skull, which it shattered and raised
up, "likc inverted funnel" for distance Of
about two inches in every direction around the
wound, flew through tho air, and was picked up
by the workmcn, covered with blood and brains -
several rods behind where he stood. Gage, who
was also more or css scorchcd, was prostratcd ap.
parcnty less by the blow Of the iron than the force
OF the explosion. lie fell on his back, gave few
convulsiye witches OF the extromities but spoke
in few minutes Ills men placed him in an OK
cart, in which lac rode three quarters Of mile to
his lodgings sitting erect; got of the cart him
sell, and with but little assistance; walked to the
piazza and afterwards up stairs talking nationally
to the physicians, and giving them clearer ac-
count OF the accident than his friends could: occa-
sonaly vomiting up blood, the effort of which
caused hemorrhage from the wound with the
tual loss OF considerable portion of the substance
OF the brain. The left eye was dull and CLASSY
but was sensible TO the impression of light Gage
bore his sufierings with heroic fortitude telling
DR.. Williams here Is business enough for YOU
and expressed to DR.. Harlow the hope that Inc was
not much hurt F"
"Thc leading feature of this case says Professor
Biglow, "is its improbability physician who
holds IN his hands crowbar, three feet and half
4 long, and more than thirteen pounds in weight,
will not readily believe that il has been driven with
crash through the brain of man who is still able
to walk of, talking with composurc and cquanim-
ity Of the hole in his head" Professor b., who
justly describes the case one "perhaps unparal-
leed in the annals Of SURGERY" says that he was
at trst wholly skepucal," but that he was person
ally convinced. Mr.. Gage, said, visited Bos.
ton in January, aud for some time under the
Professors observation, who had his head shaved
and cast taken; which, with the tamping iron, is
now deposited in the Museum OF the Massachusetts,
1 Medical College At that time the wounds were
perfectly healed, the only vestges OF the accident
being blindness and an unnatural prominence of
the left eye with para ysis OF the dsa scar the
cheek and another on the skull showing the irreg-
ular elevation of piece of bone "about the size Of
the palm of the band'-and behind il, an irregular
and deep hollow several inches in length, beneath
which the pulsstions of the brain were perceptible
"Takng all the circumstances int consideration"
says Professor Biglow, sit may be doubted whe-
Their the present is not the most remarkable history
ofinury to the brain which has been recorded -
This is unqucstionaby true; but considering the
little real injury caused by the passage of lamp
| ing-iron through Mr.. Cages head, the wonder ia
that pistol bullet-a buck shot-or even little
needle-can do 80 much execution the heads Of
other people"