Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-01-22
BRAIN PICTURES.
A CURIOUS PHoTo-PaYsIoLoercAL DIS
COvsRY.
The Brain q Recording camera-The Cra-
mum Of Scientist Reveals Won
derful Things.
Now York Tribunal


ITS retina the last object on which il
rested in life--in other words, that a
species of photograph is made upon that
organ which, if quickly examined with a
magnifying lens. may he plainly identi-
fed. 1t was alleged that an assassin
had been convicted in France on the
strength of the evidence thus obtained,
the image of the murderer having been
found impressed upon the eye of bis VIC
tim while the latter was in the act OF
being struck down by the murderers
weapon.
Owing TO the many impediments in
the way of killing people for the mere
purpose of adding 10 the store OF human
knowledge, but little advance has been
made in the development of this curious
thought, and until some one unseltishly
volunteers to be experimental upon for
the benefit of science, 1t is not likely that
much progress will be made in such q
difficult field Of research.
Some fifteen years ago, while occupy
ing my old establishment on Broadway,
frequently observed a gentleman, APP
parently fifty-tive or sixty years of age,
with tall. erect figure and distinguish
ed air. His features were regular and
strikingly handsome, and be wore a
flowing beard that once had been black,
but now Was beginning 10 show the frost
of time. Evidently he was foreigner,
and judged him TO be a man OF noble
birth and high culture. His movements
were full OF dignity, while his face
showed the resigned expression of one
who had suffered either from blighted
ambition or a hopeless love.
As he always walked along seemingly
buried in reflection. | could contrlve no
plan OF "gettpg at him" so TO speak,
until one day be stopped for a moment
in front of an excavation that was being
made in front of the old Roosevelt pro-
perry on the corner of Fourteenth street
and Broadway, now the site OF the Do
nestle building. | happened to be pass
ing at the time, and also paused in order
to more closely observe the mysterious
stranger. At this juncture an acquaint-
ance tapped me on the shoulder and
said "Why, lockwood, you seem TO be
very much interested IN the old Count
yonder. Do you know him 2" "No, l
do not" / replied, land was Just won
dering who and what he IS" "Well,
join me at lunch and | will tell you it's
rather an interesting story" 1t being
an Idle hour. with me, | accepted my
friends invitation, and he then related
these curious particulars.
The Count Borenski was formerly n
professor of languages in the College of
Arts and Sciences in Munich. At an
early age he developed a marvellous gift
in the acquisition of languages, and be-
fore he was thirty-fve had successfully
supplemented the discoveries and labors
of Champolion in the Interpretation OF
many of the ancient bicroglyphics and
symbols that had previously baifled the
skill of the great students of philolCgy.
But rs is sometimes the fate even of the
most practical and scientific men, the
Count met and fell deeply in love
with young German girl. He
proposed marriage, but was refused
by the parents on the ground that
as the father and brothers of the
maiden were soldiers, and had been so
for generations, her road to Hvmen must
likewise be 1.-The path to glory" In
short, she must wed only soldier. In
hot blood the Count wrote a letter to the
father, which so incensed the family that
one Of the sons replied with n challenge.
A dnel resulted, and the eldest brother
Of the girl was left dead on the field or
severely wounded. The Connt resigned
his professorship abandoned the scene
OF his literary work, and came to the
United States, where he lived upon a
moderate income from an estate left him
in his native land, and he is now deyo-
ting himself to the study of Egyptology.
Such was ny friends story.
OF course / became more interested
than ever IN my Broadway chara&r."
After awhile / noticed that the Count
began TO show the rayages of time. He
was losing his erect and elastic step, and
as recently as three years ago 1t was
painful to observe how old age had |
fairly overtaken him and he had become |
decrepit, and with bent form and locks !
grown white and long he tottered by on |
his daily walk, bearing his weight upon |
n staff. After this | saw him rarely, and |
finally not at all. In the thronging !
events of New York life one has little |
time to linger on the past. and too often |
we disregard the future. However, that's |
an aside.
My hero and his history passed from
mind until short time ago, when | was
sent for by Professor Black, of the Belle
vue Hospital for Aged Men. on Manhat-
tan boulevard. "Come in, person" he |
wrote, Gas have a case in which you
will probably be interested" On reach
ing the dormitory of which the Pro-
lessor had charge was surprised 10
learn that my missing friend, the Count,
had Just passed away. The Doctor
knew but little of his history, and de-
sired to send photograph TO his sur
viving relatives as collateral evidence of
his death. After the negatives were
made the Doctor remarked that such
singular complications had manifested
themselves during the illness of the
Count, especially in the cerebral region,
that he proposed TO hold an autopsy, and
at his invitation | remained.
The brain has always been to me the
most interesting organ of the human
body, and this | thought would be
good opportunity to observe whether a
life devoted to study would in any way
affect its material or structure. felt
sure there must be such a thing as
growth, and l knew OF many instances
in which the brain or portions of it had
been increased in size by culture. Be-
sides, an examination in the present
case might determine something for or
against the theories Of the psychologists.
In order that the face should not APP
pear disfgured at the funeral an Incl
sion was begun at point Immediately
posterior to the superior angle of the au-
ricle and carried directly over the vor-
tex to similar point on the opposite
side. The scalp was then DETECTED to
the supra-orbital arches anteriorly and TO
the occipital protuberance posteriorly.
The skull-cap was removed by saving
through the external table, beginning
the section in front. about one inch
above the margin of the orbit and ex-
tending il behind to a level with
the occipital protuberance. The in
ternal table was then broken with
4 chisel aud hammer and the skull
zap pried of. The crnial nerves
md spinal cord we're then severed