Evening star., 1952-08-24

board of control last night
described as very successful" the
first large-scale test of mass
surgery to help the insane.
The brain operations-known as
transorbital lobotomy-were per-
formed by DR.. Walter Freeman,
Washington neurologist who
pioneered in corrective" brain
surgery on the insane.
Joe F. Burdett, president of the
West Virginia board Of control
which supervises % state insti-
tutions, reported that So of the
228 mental patients operated on
in the state during three week
period last month have been sent
home. He said 80 others are ready
for release as soon as their
families can make arrangements
for them.
Loses st. Elizabeths Post.
Meanwhile. it was learned here
that DR.. Freeman has been
dropped as a conSultant in neu-
rology at st. Elizabeths Hospital.
DR.. Winfred Overholser, superin-
tendent of st. Elizabeth's. de-
|clined comment beyond saying DIR.
Freeman was no longer a consult
ant there. DR.. Freeman said he
had received a brief letter dated
July 81 from DR.. Overholser say
ing that DR.. Overholser had de-
cided not to renew his appoint
ment as a consultant. DR.. Over
holser has said previously he con-
siders the lobotomy drastic and
mutilating."
Mr.. Burdett, In releasing a re-
port from DR.. Freeman on the
mass operations, said the board
Of control was considering putting
a fixed sum in the budget to pro-
vide for twice-yearly operations
by DR.. Freeman. He said he ex-
pected another group to be ready
for the operations in January.
He reported that of the 228 who
underwent the operations after
written permission from their
families or guardians, 126 had
shown no or partial improvement
and four died.
Relieves Severe Suffering.
DR.. Freeman, in his report, pre-
dicted that close to 100 patients
will be out Of the hospital at one
time or another during the next
six months.
"The objectives of psychosur-
gerry are twofold," DR.. Freeman
said in his report. I'm the first
place, to return improved patients
to their homes and. In the second
place, to relieve the intolerable
suffering Of many patients so that
they can again join their fellow
patients in more useful activities
1T Is unrealistic to expect that
patients who have been hospitali-
zed for more than 10 years will
be able to return home since the
families have closed ranks anc
there is nobody to look after them
during their necessarily prolonged
convaleScence and rehabilitation
II anticipate. however, that with
the quieting Of the disturbed be.
havior of number of patients
they will be transferred to better
wards SO that more Of the per-
sonnel that was engaged in the
care Of these disturbed patients
will be able to participate in the
rehabilitation activities within the
hospitals"
! Aids Chance for Recovery.
DR.. Freeman said the present
project and the studies which pre-
ceded it have demonstrated that
transorbital lobotomy can ado
materially to the chance of pa.
tients to recover and return tx
productive activity.
| He estimated that 500 patient.
In West Virginia State hospital.
at present could be rehabilitatec
and 500 others could have theil
suffering relieved to some extent
by these operations.
He recommended that patient.
who have been hospitalized for si1
months without substantial i'm.
provement and patients who ar.
returned to the hospital after tria
home visits should be considered
for transorbital lobotomy.
He also proposed a comparativ,
study Of patients who have beer