Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-05-17
mini AND BRAIN.
DR.. Joseph d wyshe's Theory The
Mind NotDependent on the Brain
-Illustraed by well-known Gases
in Medictl Science.
oakland Tiues.I


Rev. DIR. Joseph H. Wythe delivered
lecture last evening before the Ebeil So
ciety ia the chapel OF the Presbyterian
church. The dogtor's subject was "Mind
and Braiu, and he was listened to with
rapt attention by his audience. His
theory is new unong the scientists who
are giving the matter considerable at
tsntion. The doctor stated that the word
mind" il not to be restricted to intel
lectual processes. but it represents the
cause of all vital activities, or the soul.
OF course this definition precludes the
idea Of the brain being its essential
organ. The doctor does not believe in
the diversions Of the brain as indicative
Of character as advanced by the theory
Of phrenology. He contcnts that the
MUD is distributed throughout the body.
This is demonstrated by science. In
proof OF this DR.. Wythe cited many au-
ihorities, all OF which proved cases
where the brain was either impaired or
absolutely wanting. One case was that
of child born without n brain, but who
had lived eleven hours. Another was
that Of girl who had her head cut
open by buzz-saw, dividing the brain,
but who recovered; nor were her facul-
ties disturbed by the accident. Probably
the most remarkable ease of all was that
Of young man who, by the premature
explosion Of blast. was struck by an
iron rod three feet long, The iron en-
tered the face below the cheek bone aud
came out on the opposite side Of the
skull, having passed through the lower
portion Of the brain. The man recov-
cred and always possessed the use of his
faculties. The man lived several years
and visited this State. When he died
his skull was sent to medical college in
New York, where it is to be seen, the
passage of the iron bar through the
skull being well defined. Even the great
statesman Daniel Webster's brain was
diseased, but not impaired. Shortly be-
fore his death Webster delivered bril-
liant address before large audience and
at the post inorten examination his
brain showed it must have been sur
rounded with mass Of clotted blood at
least sixty days before the address was
delivered. His death was caused direct
ly by an ailms snt Of the STOMACH and not
Of the brain. Another instance cited
was that Of young man Who had o
secretion Of pus from the left ear for
several months and whose intellect was
not in the least mi'aired. In his case
the post norton examination revealed
the fact that the entire left portion Of
the brain was decomposei, and was q
mass Of pus. Beside these, Dr. Wythe
referred to many other equally singu or
cases Of like nature. To further prove
his theory the doctor recalled several
well.known cases Of scientific lore where
the entire brain had been removed from
frogs, alligators and other reptiles, and
the victims either lived for time or
exhibited signs Of vitality after the
operation had been performed. Also the
circumstance OF the decapitated frog
that walked around the operation table
in the scientists studio in this interest
ing but peculiar condition. At the
conclusion DR.. Wythe was heartily ap-
plauded by his Interested listeners.