The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-30
A REMARKABLE CURE.
1 Patient at the Insane Hospital Cured of
Epilepsy by the Trephine.

A year ago last April, DR.. Fletcher reported a
sase to the Marion County Medical Society, an
abstract of which was given in the journal, of
the permanent cure of case of epilepsy at the
Indiana Hospital for the Insane, by removing
an area Of depressed bone an inch in diameter,
which had been mashed down upon the brain by
fall from house-top elk years be-
fore. The lifting of this little tablet
Of bone made the patient changed man. No
camp meeting conversion was ever more COM
plete or effectual in the work of mental or moral
reform. He no longer craved alcohol or mar
eotics; he lost his suicidal mania and murderous
tendencies-no longer raved, fought or swore as
IN the six years preceding, but became as mild
N hammered man as one would wish to see, and
In the following September was sent to his home
b LaPorte county completely cured.
A very similar case has just occurred at the
hospital the patient being Mr.. John Greig, a
workman in the Eagle machine shops, of this
city. Three years ago Mr.. Greig was struck by
piece of iron, causing fracture and depression
Of the skull and Inconsistencies for eight or ten
days. After five months he resumed his work,
but, in the course of the following year, became
inattentve TO business, irritable the slightest
annoyance reckless and destructive, with
gradual loss of memory. Upon July 80 he was
admitted to the hospital, and came under Dr.
Fletcher's care. External inspection showed
little appearance Of injury, but after cutting
through the scalp small depression was found
In the bone. The mem brane over the place was
removed, when B. loose splinter of bone about as
large as a carpet tack was discovered Ihls
was removed, with a portion OF the
E111l& hrn -rth he nj ar n
hemorrhage was so severe as to imperil the life
of the patient. All the diseased bone W as re-
moved, the bleeding controlled, and in an hour
after the effects of the anasthetic:
himself as feeling relieved from the
unpleasant sensations that had annoyed him
for the last three years. His appetite returned,
and the following day he took, as he said, 1.-The
first good square meal he had enjoyed in three
years" Five days after the operation he was
discharged as cured.
Dr. Fletcher says this case is notable, because
30 small an injury produced so serious result,
aad that from so slight surgical operation such
remarkable change should follow The
his demeanor were different from the
hour Of the operation. He suffered little pain,
bat for short time thereafter had constant
sense of nausea when the injured part was
pressed upon Intentionally or by accident. The
Doctor stated that the insanity was due, in his
opinion, to the interruption of the circulation
through the meningeal blood vessels-the brain
lacked its proper blood supply. AS result the
cerebral functions were disturbed, and
the entire physical and moral nature
Of the man changed. DR.. Fletcher said that
there is no doubt that similar cases frequently
exist, and where crime is committed by such
persons, a jury of experts should decide the
moral responsibility rather than the ordinary
jury, but that these were questions for the con-
sideration of the courts and law makers.
He said he had no desire to comment or
draw conclusions as to the psychical
phenomena caused by blows on the head
and slight depression of the inner plate Of the
skull upon the brain, as it led to fields of dis
cussion where fools madly rush, while angels
fear to tread" but nevertheless, had the LaPorte
patient, who was good and kind man before
the injury. committed suicide after it, with his
constant profanity and obscenity upon his lips,
few there be who would think it worth while to
pray him out of purgatory, and yet fall in
obedience to the laws of gravity, and against his
WILL had depressed fragment Of bone, made
him fend for six years, and removal of this
pressure had converted him into an upright and
moral man.