Daily national Democrat., 1861-01-24
The Man through whose head passed an
Iron Rod.

Iron Rod.
Our readers have heard of this case. and
will not be Indifferent to the following re-
marks regarding it, which we find in the
San Francisco Medical journal, for January
All who are old enough to have been read
ers OF medical journals in 1913, will recollect
the case of the man Gage, through whose
head passed tamping rod, three feet seven
inches In length, an inch and quarter in
diameter, and weighing thirteen and three
quarter pounds.
few months ago, we had occasion, in
some clinical remarks, to mention this re.
markable case, in which we stated that,
though the man survived, we were not in
formed as to the mental and general condi>
ton in which the injury left him
DIR. Henry Trevtt of Valparaiso, South
America, who was present, at once replied
to our remark, that he knew Gage well; that
he lived in Chill, where he was engaged in
stage driving and that he was in the en-
Joyment of good health, with no impairment
whatever of his mental faculties
DIR. Harlow, of Cavendish, Vermont, in
whose practice the case occurred, described
the wound as commencing just anterior to
the remus of the inferior maxillary bone of
the left side, taking a direction upward and
backward, toward the medium line passing
through the left anterior lobe of the cere-
brum, and making its exit at the junction of
the coronal and sagtal sutures lacera.ing
the longitudinal sinus; extensively fractur-
ing the frontal and parietal bones; breaking
up large portion of the brain, and protru-
ding the globe of the left eve from its socket
" ho1f of II
account OF the case was published in this
journal for January, lS4s. H.-OAio Nedi-
cal and Surgical Journal
The above case, in which the mental fac
ulties were fully restored, after the loss of
considerable amount of brain, goes to prove
that parts OF this organ may be reproduced,
When lost, the same as other structures
This is a subject which appears not to have
attracted the attention of Pathological Anat-
omlsts heretofore, though numerous exam
pies are on record of large quantities OF brain
being lost, and yet recovery of all the mem
tai faculties ultimately taking place. The
following extract, from the report of case
published by Dr. Isaac Rowell of this city,
Is in point.-ED
Immediately upon the discharge of the
pus, hernia of the brain made its appear
ance at the opening, of about the size of the
half of hens egg, if cut longitudinallv.-
Ihe faculties of the patient, though clouded,
appeared perfect, with the exception of his
power OF speech, and for period of ten days
he expressed his feelings and desires bv signs
which were perfectly Ineligible, and from
that time he began to regain the lost facul-
ty.
The hernia cerebri was in due time, cut
81 W. Will In;
vented, by the application, to the exposed
surface OF the brain, of various caustics At
the expiration of three months from the date
OF the injury, the wound had completely
healed, and the patients faculties appeared
perfect, with but one popularity, that of ex-
pressing himself in reference to whatever
transpired with him. He would say, in ex-
planning his impressions of events, or his de-
sires, that one-haLf of such and such thing
had occurred. Thus, after dinner, if he were
asked if he had dined, he would say, "Y Yes
l have had half dinner" "Do you feel
well r lie would say, II am half ceH"-
Did you sleep last night? His answer would
be, Yes; slept half of last night" DC =
Otherwise his faculties were perfect, and he
would indicate, 10y his manner and by his
qualification, that he enjoyed the comforts of
health end happiness, and that he knew and
understood, as formerly, all that happened to
him daily.
After the healing of the wound, there was
very perceptible depression at the point of
injury, and a popularity in the history ofthe
case was, that when this depression had dis
appeared, which occurred some months sub
sequently, with its removal. the pecularitv
OF expressing himself by one-haifof every
thing, was also removed, and he has since
been in the perfect possession of his health
and faculties"