Ancient Irish Surgery.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 9, 27 February 1902, Page 13

Ancient Irish Surgery.

Perhaps the most ancient instance on record of the surgical operation of trepanning is that recorded of Connor, King of Ulster, who reigned about 80 years before the Christian era. It is stated that he was struck by a missile thrown from a sling, and his skull fractured by the blow. He remained senseless until the arrival of a celebrated surgeon, who, having first obtained the consent of the chief officers of the State, proceeded to remove the extraneous substance that caused the wound, and to relieve the brain from the pressure of the fractured fragments of the skull. The operation was successful, and the King was restored to good health, which he enjoyed for several years_ ; but, being a man ot irascible temper, he was easily enraged, and it is 1 said on one occasion of excitement exerted himself with such violence that the wound in his head burst forth and he died immediately. The name of the surgeon who effected this remarkable cure was Finyeen.