Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-02-04
A TREPHINED SKULL.
The Curious Inca Specimen Recently Re-
ceiyed From Peru.

The Curious Inca Specimen Recently Re
ceived From Peru.
Modern surgery has brought to perfec-
ton methods of trephining skulls of the
living. The researches of anthopolog-
lists, however, show that trephining has
been practiced by savage races both of
the present and of prehistoric times.
Skulls of the dead have been trephined
by savage or semi-savage people for
various purposes: Some trephlned
skulls have been found indicating that
the operation was performed long
enough before the death of the indi-
vidual to allow certain degree of heal
ing. Prof. Otis T. Mason, curator of
the depal tment of entomology, National
Museum, in a recent number of the pub
lished proceedings of the museum, says
the most remarkable specimen of post
mortem trephining which has yet come
to light is one recently received by the
museum from DR.. w. H. Jones,
U. S. N. cit is skull, y
says Prof. Mason, obtained from
Chaclacavo. near Chosica, mountain
in Peru, near Lima. about four thousand
feet high. Three mummies-nan wom-
an and child-were obtained from one
grave. From the same place were OBJ
tanned several skulls of peculiar shape,
including the one under consideration.
The specimen belongs to the elongated
Inca type. The section or ROUNDED was
taken from the center of the frontal
bone, and the opening is about two and
half inches in length and nearly two
inches in width. The outline of the cut
ting is a polygon. Eight distinct fur
rows are visible upon the surface of the
skull. The work seems to have been
done in the most bungling manner. One
space longitudinally, and the parts on
either side of this main furrow were
taken away piecemeal by combination
of burrows and fractures. At the ex-
tremity of some of the burrows scratches
are visible, which seem to indicate that
the bone was removed by means of
Clipped stone implement. 1t is impossi-
BILE to conjecture the design of this sim
gular custom. We are not able
to say even whether the bone
was taken out just previous to
or after death. No rondelles or frag-
ments of bone removed have been found
in this continent similar to those dis
covered by M. Prumeres.'
The specimen is so deformed, Prof.
Mason says, as to admit of no delicate
measurements. In addition to the usual
reformation produced by bandaging, the
occipita1 region is slightly bent to the
left, and the nasal spine SO completely
warped toward the left as to be seen en-
tirely in front of the orifice on that side.
After describing more infinitely the fur
rows and gashes. and the methods by
which the trephining was apparently
done, Prof. Mason says: ''Thus by a
series of saw cuts and breaks, this mass
of bone, which by courtesy we may call
a rondelle. was removed. It can hardly
be said to throw light upon the problem,
for it has introduced complication of
surgery quite unknown hitherto. Imay
be allowed to venture a guess that the
somewhat quadrangular pieces which
would result from the two operations.
bounded by the cross line, were wrought
into some useful thing, like the point of
an arrow or spear. Instances are not
wanting among people of low civiliza-
ton where human kodies have been con-
sidered to have great potency. Wash
ington Star.