The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-08-02
MADE BRAIN STRAIGHT.
Difficult Surgical Task Relieves Boy of
Daily Attacks of Epilepsy.

Alfred Jones, Is years old, of 4S7S
Bircher road, is no longer 1.-The boy
with twisted BRAIN After noted
specialists had tried in vain to restore
his mentality a skillful surgical oper-
alton has relieved the pressure of the
skull on the memory center of his
brain, and after years of intellectual
darkness he is beginning to see the
| light.
His mother, Mrs. Anna NJ. Jones, a
widow. hopes that in time he may be
| like other boys. AS the human brain
continues to develop until the age or
81, it is pointed out by doctors that
there still remain six years in which
Alfred may profit by the surgical
operation, in case it proves ultimately
successful.
The operation was performed by
DR. Francis William Kirsch at the
Christian hospital.
Before coming to St. Louis, about
eight months ago. DR.. Kirsch was a
member of the staff at the Mattaa-
wan hospital in New York state. He
had also been connected with the
New York Volunteer hospital.
Surgeons who witnessed the opera
ton have been following the case
with great interest. Already there
has been one noticeable result.
Until the operation was performed
Alfred has been subject to daily at
lacks of epilepsy. At times there
had been as many as fourteen Of
these in one day. Since the operation
there has not been one of these at
tacks..
This alone would be enough to he
thankful for said Mrs. Jones, land
it encourages me to hope that in time
Alfred will become mentally normal"
Alfred was born on Christmas day,
1897, seven months after the ST. Louis
tornado iC n
storm belt, received severe shock
as q result of the tornado. though
she was not physically Injured.
Alfred was never like other boys.
Until he was years old he showed
no signs of mental capacity. In ethe
ten years which have followed he has
been like small child. He can count
to ten and say few names of IA
miliar objects about the house.
Surgeons say that it is too soon
it will have the effect of fully restor
ing his mentality. But his mother
says she has seen one hopeful sign.
This is the gradual passing away of
a certain childish diffidence which
he formerly showed when greeting a
visitor. 1t was with great difficulty
that he could be induced to say, How
do you do?" and to shake hands with
a caller. His eyes never met those
of the person to whom he spoke.
AlIr6u now lpOkS INTO one
eyes and when told to do so he shakes
our nand. and the words of greet !
ing come unfalteringly from his lips.
Thus far this is the only sign of i'm
proving mentality. but his mother says
that there are several signs of physi- !
cal upbuilding.
The boy has gained in weight and |
since he has been relieved |
of the epilepsy. He walks with less |
difficulty than before the operation, |
and his appetite. is improved.
In performing the operation, DIR. |
kirsch removed a section of the skull |
three inches in diameter. He found |
that the skull had been pressing on |
the memory center of the brain, which |
is the upper portion of the left lobe, |
and that this pressure had caused GER
tain nerves of the brain to become |
twisted and adhere to the skull.
He loosened these adhesions, and |
with delicate instruments UNFINISHED |
the nerves and put them back into
their normal position.-St. Louis, Mo, |
fn| n he