The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-09-10
EPILEPSY,

Human Race of One of Its Curses.
London TIRes,
At the meeting Of August "A of the
British Medical Association at Brighton
Mr., Victor Hcraley, F, R. s., Surgeon tc
the National Hospital for the Paralyzed
and Epileptic, exhibited three patients
treated in that hospital, whose recovery
may be said TO mark the commencement
Of new era in surgery, They are men
who have been suffering from severe
epileptic fits, and In whom Mr.. Hershey
has opened the skull and has removed
diseased structure or new growth from the
brain itself.
In the most recent Of these three the
operation waa performed on the 18th oil
July, 80 that complete month has since
elapsed; and the patient was sufficiently
we'll to take the journey to Brighton. The
other two cases were operated upon, one
week or two and the other several weeks
earlier; and In none Of the three has there
been any symptom 10 interfere with the
prompt aud complete recovery. So far,
also, the men arc cured of their epilepsy ;
but considerable time must be permitted
to elapse before any claim for permanenCe
Of result can be established. What is &C.
tually proved at present Is that 1t has be.
come possible, by the observation Of
symptoms, not only to determine the fact
Of the existence of some merbid growth
within the skull, but alRo to determine ita
precise position with such accuracy that 1t
can DO cut down upon and removed. II
Is also proved that considerable portions
Of brain may be removed without injury,
the functions to which these portions are
subseryient being performed, after awhile,
very possibly, by corresponding parts u
the opposite hemisphere.
In two Of Mr., Horsley's patients there
had been injuries, aud one OF them had
been previously trephined for the purpose
OF elevating portions Of bone which were
depressed by fracture OF the skull; so that
in both Of these loCalization was
assisted by manifest external indica,
ton; but In the third there was nothing
OF this kind, and the point at which the
skull should be opened was determined
solely by the fact that the fits commenced
In a particular group OF muscles-those
which act upon the left thumb. The ply.
stefan in charge Of the case was not able
to say that this manner OF commencement
pointed certainly 10 the presence OF con.
tinuing source Of irritation near the sur
face OF the brain at definite spot; and the
surgeon having opened the skull
at the point indicated tumol
was found imDeded in the brain substance
and together with u portion OF brain sur
rounding It, was removed, SO far with abso
lutte cessation Of the fits, which were pre-
viously not only very frequent, but, as
might have been expected, were also in.
creGsing alike in frequency and in aever'
| lty, and were such Us to disable the ma,
tient from following any occupation, moi
TO say that they placed his life Ia constant
Jeopardy from accident. There are two
contingencies in relation to the case
which render 1t impossible TO predict with
certainty tho perlnancnCe OF the resutt
obtained, and there are: (2) That the seal
which must form in in or upon the brain
tissue may possibly itself become a source
Of irritation In time; and (2) that a second
proportion OF brain tumors, or Of tumors
in other parts Of the body, are OF nature
to fender recurrence possible or probable.
We have here, then, as "F. r. 81
pointed out In relation to the former case
an illustration Of the value and usefulness
Of experimentation on living animals
DR.. Hiltzig and Dr.. Ferrier commenced Ia
experiment upon living animals by apply.
Ing the stimulation OF weak galvanic cur.
rents to different portions Of the brain,
that the Offices Of these portions become
known, and then 1t was found that the
brain surface 10 largely made up OF what
are technically called motor areaa-that Ia
to say, OF regions which excite move.
ments, each In its especial part OIL
the body. LoCalization is as yet
only In it's infancy, but even now
skillful experimenter, by stimulating
in succession different parts OF the brain
can cause o narcotized and, therefore, I'm.
conscious animal to perform considera
BILE variety OF actions with perfect pre-
Cision and II has been found for example
that portion OF the brain surface which
the phrenologist asserted To be the seat o.
ideality or aCQuisltiveness or some such
rubbish, Is in reality the exciting center o.
the movements Of the left thumb. It was
the application Of this particular piece O
knowledge which enabled the mediCa
Stair Of the National Hospital To point ouI
the seat OF the disease In Mr.. Horsley'l
third patient,