OPERATION ON PRISONER'S BRAIN

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3084, 15 May 1917, Page 4

OPERATION ON PRISONER'S BRAIN

TO REMOVE CAUSE Ol' , TROUBLE.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, May 14. A now departure in phrenology, so' far as Now Zealand is concerned, has been made, an operation having been conducted for the removal of pressure on the brain of a prisoner. The case was that of a youth "of nineteen'years, who was undergoing a. long sentence in connection with a, charge of attempted murder. Tho attention of the Minister of Justice was drawn to the matter by a report from Dr. dc Clivc Lowe, oE Auckland, who expressed/ the opinion that the boy's acts in the past were duo to some pressure on the brain, or. some similar defect, possibly caused by a, bad fall the lad was known to have sustained when about; five years old. After an X-ray examination the doctor reported that, in his opinion, the condition referred to oould be cured, aud the patient restored to normality by asurgical operation. This was confirmed by a southern surgeon. The consent of the boy's parents was obtained and Cabinet approved tho Minister's suggestion that the operation should be allowed to proceed. Dr. Lowe performed the operation to-day, and he reports that ifc proved the accuracy of the diagnosis, and that the trouble to. which he attributes the past acts of the patient were successfully removed. Mr. Matthews, Inspector of Prisons, supervised the necessary arrangements.-