Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-02-25
A SURGICAL LOVE CURE.
Is NOT PHRENO -OGY MORE THAN
A BARREN THEORY
A Strange Case Reco rded iu the Note Book
OF DIR. Sands--An Infatnation Extracted
Through Hole In the Skuii-A Remark
able Operation.

VI ~. Extracted
Through n Hole In the skuii-A Remark
able Operation.
DIR. Henry f. Sand, who died recently in
New York, was recog lized us at the head and
front of his profession in America.
1t was DR.. Sands 'actice to keep a care
ful and minute RECORD of the details of every
surgical case he undertook On the occasion
OF his funeral had occasion to look through
this tome, which had not then been removed
from his desk l was struck at the time by
the number of peculiar cases and the orig
inality of his methods of treatment
Upon one page Dr. Sands states that he dis
believed in phrenology. His Ltatement was
coupled with the relation of surgical case
which put his unbelief to u severe test.
He was sitting in his Office one evening
when man Of military appearance was
ushered in and introduced himself as Charles
Markham, a sculptor He was about IS years
of age with a well formed figure
He had pale, intel lectual and rather sensu
Gus face, and moved with an air of vitality
and force that gave the impression of strong
and vigorous manhood. The stranger pro
ceeded at once to business
DO you believe in phrenologyf" be In
quired
The doctor replied that while he believed,
OF course, that the brain was the organ of the
mind, yet be did not see any scientific founda.
ton for the allotment of certain functions to
any particular spot il the brain.
Il had hoped, sir, responded Markham,
that you were u follower of Gall and
Spurzheim and, like these eminent physi-
clans, believer in the noble science OF
phrenoloSy. because thG you would not hesi-
tate To give me relief l am suffering from
love- and the passion consumes me hourly.
TIE sCULPT)R's AILMENT
"A woman who Is divinely fair, with the
graces of an angel, has taught me to love her,
and what would make most men happy has
made me truly miserable, indeed.
Years ago l registered solemn vow
never to marry. have never met any one
TO mako mo wish that such a VOW was not
made, until this lovely vision crossed my
pathway.
Il cannot, dare not break my VOW ]
should despise myself forever if l should
break it.
While my lips shape the words 4 hate
you,' concerning my idol, hear a voice in
sido Kissing, You lie You liel'
Then feel that am mad Ny heart Is
on fire!
My lips yearn for the lingering kiss Of
perfect love. My arms grope out as if to seek
opportunity to become entwined around the
matchless form of my queen
Every second Is torture | must be free
from this consuming passion
Cure me of this horrible fancy, doctor,
and you will make me the happisst man on
earth, while will make you rich. will
give ell possess for 4 cure for love"
DR.. Sands was inclined to be amused at this
strange recital which he regarded as the ex-
preston Of disordered mind, but the visitor
was too much in earn est to be ridiculed
He tested Markham i'll various ways until
he became certain Of his sanity and then
frankly said that no knew of no treatment
that would fit his case.
Mr. Markham became furious with rage at
this suggestion and told Dr. Sands that there
was a way in which he thought he could be
relieved Of his burden. Phrenology taught
it, he said
According TO his i'd IA, amativeness, the Or
gan of love, is situated at the base Of the
brain in the back head, on each side of the oc
cipital protuberance When the passion Is at
its full height this part of the brain is over
charged with blood, and man then becomes
the slave of woman and has an intense yearn-
ing to be near and cal-ess her.
Having stated this as his theory, which he
supported by citations from the phrenologi-
cal theorists, he bluntly asked Dr. Sands TO
undertake an operation for his relief.
DR. Sands replied that surgery was his
business, and that lie would perform any
operation requested OF him except only such
as were of a criminal nature Neither would
he perform an operation against his Judg
ment by which life would be endangered
But he saw no reason why he might not meet
Markham's wishes The sculptor was told to
call next day.
THE OPERATION AND ITS RESULT.
Promptly at the appointed hour Mr.. Mark
ham presented himself at DR.. Sands private
hospital for the opere tion. He smiled as he
stretched himself out on the operating table,
and was soon under the influence of ether
The hair was cut OF tho back of the pa
TENTS head Two y shaped incisions and
flaps were made at the base Of the skull,
where phrenologists locate the organ Of anna
tiveness
The smallest trephine known In surgery,
about quarter of al inch in diameter was
then used TO bore two holes through the skull,
exposing the brain, VII hich was in highly tn
famed condition.
The brain was not punctured, but a lssch
was placed at each orifice for a short time,
and a quantity of blood thus removed The
wound was then dressed antiseptically and
closed with sutures.
Mr. Markham came out of the influence of
the ether in good shape. After several hours
had elapsed he was permitted to talk, and
pronounced the operat ton entirely successful,
as the thought OF tho woman he had loved
brought no more feeling than he had for
other women.
He remained und4r the charge of DR..
Sands for three weeks and during this time
was entirely free FROM disturbing sentiments
The fires of love, he sIid, were quenched and
he was supremely happy.
DIR. Sands saw him from time to time after
he left and made notes of the interviews
Mr. Markham did not remain in that serene
frame of mind which followed the operation,
as the intense love OF which he complained
came b6ck to him at intervals, suddenly and
with terrible power.
But he had the antidote ever at hand, and
eeches applied over the holes in his skull
soon restored his equanimity and removed
every amorous thought.
These flashes of love become weaker and
weaker as the treat nent was persisted in.
and the last record in the note book OF DR..
Sands shows that the cure was perfect and
the patient healthy.
This was the pertinent inquiry In q foot
note at the bottom of he recital of the case by
DR.. Sands: ''Is not phrenology more than a
barren theoryf'-New York Cor. st. Louis
Globe-Democrat.
Cremation Authorized.
On certain conditions the Swedish author
tiles have decided to authorize cremation.
One of them Is that tue Society for Promoting