CRIME AND THE SURGEON.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1713, 17 May 1917, Page 3

CRIME AND THE SURGEON.

• PRISONER SUCCESSFULLY OPERATED ON. Auckland, May 14. A new departure in phrenology, so J ar as New 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. The attention of the Minister of Justice was drawn to the matter by a report from Dr do Clive Lowe, of Auckland, who expressed (he opinion that the boy’s acts in the past were due to some pressure on (he brain, or some similar defect, possibly caused by a bad fall the lad was known to have sustained when about live years old. After an Xray examination the doctor reported that, in his opinion, the condition referred to could be cured, and liie patient restored to normality by

a surgical operation. This was confirmed by a southern surgeon. The consent of the boy’s parents was obtained, and Cabinet approved the Minister’s suggestion that the operation should be allowed to proceed. Dr Lowe performed the operation to-day, and he reports that it proved the accuracy ■of; the diagnosis, and that the trouble to which lie attributes the past acts of the patient was successfully removed. Mr Mathews, Inspector of Prisons, supervised the necessary arrangements.

Apropos of (he above, a correspondent, who vmiclies for the accuracy of his statements, sends the Post the following:—“ln the early TiO’s a Christchurch resident had a son whose occupation was that of: a cal lie drover. He, with others, was driving some cattle into Christchurch, wlien one of the heasts rn-died his horse, throwing Ihe young fellow on to his head, and he was stunned. Some time afterwards lie developed tits, and visited the various doctors, who could not do anythin';- to cure him. A Captain Wilson, who had been in charge of the While Swan steamer when she was wrecked on the Past Coast of lids island, was settled in Christchurch, and set up as a mesmerist. The young fellow was taken by his father to see Captain Wilson, who put his medium into a trance, examined the young fellow’s head, pointed to a particular spot, and said a piece of bone was pressing; on the brain. Doctors were informed of this, but ridiculed it. The young; fellow urged his father to have an operation pm-formed; the father consented, consulted the doctor, who said he would not lake any risk, but agreed to perform the operation. The young- fellow was taken to lla i hospital, a day was appointed for Captain Wilson to he present with his medium, who was put into the trahee, pointed to the same spot, the operation was performed, and a piece of hone was found that, pressed on the brain. The young fellow never suffered from Jits afterwards."