The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1883-08-23
Double Identity After Trepanninr

Double Identity After Trepanninr
c. W, and American farmer
aged twenty-three, was brought t.
me in March, 1877, for examination
as to his mental condition, that
might testify before a jury, which
his friends had requested, as they
desired to send him to a lunatiC
asylum. He was brought from the
country in an open wagon by his
wife and two friends, and from them
was learned the following history
When fifteen years of age, and while
engaged as striker" in his fathers
blacksmith shop, he was struck on
the head with a pointed hammer
and felled to the floor, was uncon-
scious for several hours, gradually
recovered, and after a few weeks,
suffered no noticeable inconven-
fence from the injury, although a
marked depression of the skull re-
NAMED. This occurred in Allen
county. Two or three years later
he came to the community in which
he now resides, was married when
nineteen years of age, purchased a
farm shortly afterward, and all this
time presented no mental peculiari-
ty sufficiently naked to attract at
tention. Six months before he was
brought to me he began to exhibit
indications of mental arrangement.
At first he was morose and sullen,
but later become maniacal and diff
cult to restrain, and for several
weeks had had no lucid interval.
He had eaten but little, his sleep
had been much disturbed, and he
had lost strength and flesh radidly.
At the time l saw him he was ema-
ciated and cachectic in appearance
with furred.tongue; pulse ITO; tenn
perature SO degrees. He was very
nervous and impatient of restraint,
and presented all the symptoms of
acute mania. There was deep de-
dression about the size of a silver
quarter, at the junction of the sag
gittal with the coronal suturc, and
scalp in the vicinity of the depres-
sion was so sensitive that it was
examined with great difficulty. The
man was evidedtly in no condition
to be sent to an asylum, and was
returned to his home q short dis
lance in the country.
On the following day the opera
ton of trepanning was performed
in the presence of Drs. Porter, Muir
ray, Neal and Meredith. At first
a section of bone was removed with |
a large trephine, and as this did
not include all the internal depres-
sion, a second was taken out which
slightly Tapped into this; still a
corner remained, which was re-
moved with bone foreeps. The |
were not injured, and |
the dura matter appeared healthy. |
The wound was closed, except at |
the posterior part, which was left |
open for drainage. The recovery
was rapid, and the relief of the men
tai arrangement was immediate and
permanent. He gained flesh and
strength rapidly and in a few weeks
to be in perfect health.
Immediately following the opera
ton were developed those curious
mental phenomena which gave spe-
cial interest to the case. The man
seemed to be impressed with the
idea that he had just recovered from
the effects of the blow on the head,
and although he talked freely of his
history up to the time of the acct
dent, seemed to have no recollec-
ton of any event of his life from
this time until he was relieved by
the operation. He said that he did
not know his wife, or that he had
a wife; his neighbors were stran-
gers to him, and his business
in connection with
the purchase of his farm could
only be understood after an
examination of the deeds and full
He seemed to be en-
tirely ignorant of his former sur
and had to learn the
roads of his neighborhood like any
other stranger. Some of his friends
were skeptical in regard to these
things, and many tests were made
Of their truth. His answers were
frank and candid, and he always
said that he was totally unable to
recall anything occurring in this
period of his life. When it is re
that while man of fair
intelligence, that his education was
very limited, and that he had never
heard of a similar case, it is more
difficult to believe that he could
and be consistent in
such a story than to believe the sto-
~ itself. His friends all concurred
in saying that there had been a
marked change in his demeanor
since the operation. While always
Industrious and sober, he had been
rather boisterous and turbulent in
which was in striking
contrast with his quiet manners
after operation. 1t is to be regretted
that the man was not highly intel
ectual and accustomed to describ-
ing his methods of thought, as the
interest of the case would be greatly
by minute mental details.
Record.