New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-19
LAYING BARE THE HUMAN BRAIN.
HEROIC TREATMENT FOR EPILEPSY.

AN OPERATION RECENTLY PERFORMED WITH SUI
CESS AT ST. pLrZABErH's HOSPITAL
Epilepsy, until recently has baf1ed the ingenuity OIL
medical experts. The epeptc patient but snort uo
ago. was compelled suffer the pangs Of the dsease
while medical science stood by with hands raised IN ps
but helpless There nothing for him but DEATH anu
this considered mercifu relief But recent expert
ments have brought about change. 1t has been esao
shed that epilepsy due to interference with nat
ural functions Of the BRAIN either by nonconfor VI
the skull, some abnormal growth In the brain SUI
stance. II has been shown in living animals that
weak galvanc applied to certain portions Oh INC
BRAIN would excite specific muscular movements
and by experiment with the current 1t has been iounu
that the brain made up of motor areas and each area
controls the motion of certain muscles The locaaon
Of the is only in its infancy, but enough Is
known about the subject TO enable sklfui surgeon
to pick out the locality where the pain has not full play
and to locaze the seat OF the epilepsy with some ues
of certainty The external manifestation OF the oraih
obstruction is looked for in the muscular system "hch
II settled where the brain interruption is the cure Is
within the reach Of surgery, II properly applied
There IL patient at 81. Elzabeths Hospital VINO
has been subjected TO this treatment ana VII"
marked The patient Is Joseph Martinez tn
teen-year-od boy. He admitted to the hospi''i
about three weeks ago About three years ago Thie AZ
school in France young Martinez was struck on the he
with large glass mug large cash was made IN lne
scalp by the blow and the wound bled freely. Aiter
about four weeks treatment the wound healed ana the
boy regained his normal condition For time no
remained well Then he became siless did not take any
interest study play. and in about two years er
he injured he had to give school, and came 10 MS
home this country complained Of constant pain In
his head and OF dizziness He had antng hts and was
subject violent commissions.
Several physicians treated the boy for different com
plants but he did improve, and his case was con-
sdered puzzling. Despite everything that was done or
him. the commissions oftener and with greater vio
lence the pain in his head unbearable. and no was
dizzy that he moved in constant fear Of falling
When admitted to the hospital he was care
fully examined by DR.. T. j. keane'
the consulting surgeon who has made
special study OF epilepsy and the trouble was found 10
be in the boys skull The blow his head had fractured
the skull the junction of the frontal and parietal bones
The depression by he bungling druggist
who FIRST attended the patient The result was that as
the brain increased in SIZE the upon 1t became
greater, and the epileptic fits ensued
1t not necessary to any artificial means to de-
trmine the location Of the injury in this case a. the de-
preston could be easily felt An operation was advised
the only treatment that could be Of benefit As the
boys system run down he was put upon course OF
tonic give him strength to stand the shock
and then the operation performed
Ether having been given the patient, the hair was
from his head the place where it had been In
jured Then two incsons made in the scalp which
the bone with knife. The depression was well marked
medium sized trephine was applied to the depressed
bone at the deepest point and the work OF boring through
the skull begun. Carefully the instrument
turned halfway round and back again. under a slight
pressure. until little streaks OF blood appeared IN the
shaving OF bone which indicated that the outer table OF
the skull had been penetrated. The motion was
kept mp with greater caution. and small probe was in
serted from time to time In the cut In the bone to ma It's
depth. Gradually the rephine sank through the inner
table. until the prOte struck soft substance.
This tho brain. No cutting done and by
using fine. blunt hook. round button OF bone about an
WIS exposed and the pressure upon forced through
the surrounding skull that portion protruded IL
slightly congested. The bone which pressing
upon the brain into pieces by fOrceps and taken
away The hole enlarged in this way until IL was
larger than hafdoar. All the FRAGMENTS OF bone
picked by forceps from the BRAIN and the surface
then thoroughly washed with bichlorde OF mercury
solution The wound dressed and the head bandaged
and the patient taken to his cot
The Improvement in his condition immediate. No
bad symptoms followed the trephinng Since the
ton there have been no commissions. pain or dizziness
Inside of a week the patient walking through the
hospital rs has gained flesh aud strength raPiay
indications there has been radical cure The patient will
leave he hospital IN few DAYS, with hole III his SKULL
hut OF lse