, 1888-01-26
q TREPHINED SKULL.
The Curious Inc: Specimen Recently Re-
CPived From Peru,

The Curious Inca SpeciMth NeceNtlJ he-
ceived From Peru.
Modern surgery has brought to perfee-
lion methods of trcphining skulls OF the
living. The researches of anthopOlOg-
lists, however. show that trephining has
been praciiced by Savage races both Of
the present and of prehistoric times.
Skulls OF the dead have been trcphincd
by savage or sern.-savagc people for
various purposes. Some trephined
skulls have been found Indicating nat
the operation was performed long
enough before the death OF the indi-
vidual 10 allow 4 certain degree Of heal
: ing, Prot. Otis T Mason, curator OF
the dcpaI tmCnt of entomology, National
Museum, in Il recent number of the pub
lished proceedings of the museum. says
the most remarkable specimen of post
mortem trephining which has yet como
TO light is one recently received by the
museum from DR.. w. II. Jones,
u. S. N 1T is skull"
says Prof Mason, "obtaincd from
Chaclacavo. near Chosica, mountain
in Peru, near Lima. about four thousand
feet high. Three mummiGs-man wOm-
an and child-werc obtained from one
grave. From the same place were oh
tained several skulls of peculiar shaps
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 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
furrow must have been cut across the
space .ongitudinally. and the parts on
either side of this main furrOw were
taken away pieeemeal by combination
of furFoWs and fractures. At tn, eX-
tremity of some of the burrows scratche-
are visible, which seem to indicate that
the bone was removed by E.eans of a
Clipped stone implement. II is impossi-
bic to conjecture the design OF this sin
gular custom. We are Hot able
to say even whether the bone
was taken out just previous "
or after death. No rondelleS or frsg-
ments of bone removed have been found
in this continent similar % those dis
covered by NJ. Prumeres.''
The specimen is so deformed, Prof
Mason says, as to admit of no delicate
measurements. In addition TO the usual
deformation produced by bA-1aging, tie
occipital region is slightly bent the
left, and the nasal spine so completely
warped toward TIE left as to be seen en-
tirely in front of the Orifice on that side
After describing more minutely the fur.
rows and gashes, and the methods by
which the trepnining was apparently
done, Prof. MasSA says: Thus By
series of saw cuts and breaks, this pass
Of bone, which by Oetutesy we nav call
i rondelle. was removed. Is can hardly
be said to throw light upon the problem,
for it has introduced complication of
surgery quite unknown hitherto. / NAV
be allowed to venture 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 bodies have been con-
sidered to have greet potency. Hash
iilgto,s Star
The Exhausted Journniist.
burlington Hawkeye.1
Il do not see," remarked the Journals:
how 1 am going to get through my work to-
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hausted already"
And he sunk wearily into chair and es-
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"You look tired" said the newspaper man,
looking up from his work. "You must not
attempt to do three mems work every day."
md in
voice that touched the wearied Journalist
deeply.
"You are right" he said, Il should not do
it, but must. So much is expected of Me
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tent, every word We say is weighed, every
idea We advance is discussed; Our friends
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Our enemies are vigilant and aggressive. l
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but what can I dol 1 must really ask you to
help Me out with the paper tonight"
Il think may be able to help You a little,n
said the newspaper man, hanging handful
of copy on the hook. 81 am a little busy Just
now ON that convention article, and i have
an appointment with Governor Sherman and
Senator Allison this evening, and expect to
complete financial article before midnight
if the telegraph matter doesn't take too much
of my time, but have three columns of edi-
toriaI already written, and that, with other
articles now under way, and few editorial
paragraphs i can make do for the editorial
page, and then, after Hook over the markets
and get up the commercial review for the
week, can do something for You What
have You to DOR
"Il" asked the Journalist, holding his throb-
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goes down the river tonight"
If it wasn't for the assistance he is COM
PEELED to render the Journalist, a newspaper
man wouldn't have enough to keep HIN
awake.