Page 4 Advertisements Column 2

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 61, 10 December 1907, Page 4

KNIFE AND INSANITY. DANGER OF A BLOW. "Can insanity be cured by surgical operation?" was the subject of a lecture delivered at the invitation of the Incorporated British Phrenological Society, by Dr Bernard Hollander, the well-known physician for mental diseases. Dr. Hollander showed that fifty cases of injury of a particular locality of the brain were followed by serious mental depression and melancholia; one-half of these cases were subsequently operated upon, when the paitents regained their normal mental condition. He showed that blows and falls on another region were followed by violent and homicidal mania; on another region by kleptomania, etc.; and that when the source of irritation was removed, the excited faculty was restored to normal activity. In conclusion, Dr Hollander described the case of a boy, aged sixteen, who was a liar, thief and bully, and who, after the removal of a strip of bow from his skull, was restored to [dfect morality. Dr Hollander proposed the removal of a strip of bone from the centre line of the head, and this was carried out. Ar incision was made from the top of fbe head vertically dosn to each car, ' when the tissues above the right ear icicaled the signs of an old injury. After several trepannings had been made, the hone was cut away on the riirlit yirle, when the membranes of the brain showed signs of old hemorrl.age. After treatment antiseptically, the wound was closed and healed successfully. The patient got gradually better and behaved properly, and not only did he lose his bad propensities but he fbowed higher moral feelings,