Brain Poking

I just read the most fascinating, heartbreaking and disturbing article. The commentary detailed the historical context of the prefrontal lobotomy or as originally coined the leucotomy. I have been aware, and to some extent self-educated about the rise and fall of the lobotomy cult however, I have never quite read personal accounts like this one. I suppose the reading or hearing about the scientific perspective (severing or uncoupling of the brain's emotional centers) of this procedure is less painful (no pun intended) than reading the emotional narratives of those affected by this “surgery.”

Not only was it the personal stories, but also the parallel-dichotomy that existed between those affected by the “procedure” and the physicians and researches that elevated the “cure all.” From the historical standpoint the initiative for the lobotomy came as a result of the 19th century uncertainty of how to treat or help the mentally ill population.

Okay, so let’s reason for a moment that in the early 1890’s the “insane” and those with incurable “madness” were in fact overcrowding the asylums. And well, let me even go so far as to say that the mad people also were demonstrating socially erratic behavior. To add more emphasis, let us also consider that perhaps the behavior was so bizarre that families and local villagers would scurry into their drafty homes with fear and panic, and lock the doors only to cautiously peer through the windows in order to observe the devil possessed populace. The fear and terror was probably so entrenched that the villagers considered aloud if they too could possibly “catch” the illness, after all the black plague nearly wiped out an entire country. So it is with this dramatic, yet perhaps all too real scenario that we are able to evoke the images of not only those struggling with an illness, but also the naivety and trepidation of those residing in this era.

The experimentation, and superficial desire to help advance science resulted in the invention and subsequent persuasion of the medical community to believe that aimlessly poking around in your brain could be a great idea. The evolution of the lobotomy resulted from a German physiologist experimentations that led to an asylum director in Switzerland which then links to a Portuguese neuropsychiatrist. This Portuguese fella then borrowed from the work of various researchers to (this is where this gets so good) get shot in the spinal column by a non-lobotomized patient (karma really does suck) and then he went on to win the Nobel Prize for his “medical innovations in neurosurgery.” But the story doesn’t and there. It was a clinical neurologist (a one Walter Freeman) that popularized the procedure in the United States.

I understand that hindsight is always far more clear then objective evaluations while “in the moment,” but from what I can construe the historical literature is very clear in that every single one of these scientists were vehemently met with opposition to this procedure. The literature illustrates that there were those within the medical community as well every day folk that believed this was wrong and far more dangerous than ol’ snake oil salesman Freeman led them to believe.

In spite of the protest Dr. Freeman embarked on a United States tour de crazy that allowed him to astonish the American populist with the following breathtaking feats.

The procedure would begin with the patient being clothed in a white ceremonial gown.

Electro shock would gently lull the patient to sleep while the “doctor” would insert his innovative ice pick (specially created to quickly and efficiently sever the thalamo-cortical fibers) into the patients eyeball orbit.

Once “in” Freeman would sway his ice pick in a “to and fro” or back and forth motion to ensure all tissue was severed.

Then, rinse and repeat on the opposing eyeball orbit/PFC area.

This entire life changing procedure was done within as little as 10 minutes.

The most astonishing events occurred when Freeman used his “skillz” to astound witnesses by performing two-handed lobotomies, or by demonstrating the operation in a production line manner.

Freeman once lobotomized 25 women in a single day.

All of Freeman’s selfless work and implementation of a miracle cure was frequently featured in local newspapers, television and major magazines.

And all the while Freeman left women, children and men without the necessary brain functions to be a “whole person.”

I can’t judge this man’s intentions. But what I can say is he was not so much unlike his patients or any person past, present or future – searching for acceptance, accolades, love, respect, understanding and peace. You see, Freeman’s story however horrific and cold it may seem, is the chronicled life of a man perhaps desiring to help others only to be swept away in the excitement of a miracle cure and the pride of his achievements.

The most heartbreaking or poetically interesting part of this story was Dr. Freeman. With the availability of anti-psychotic medication Freeman’s procedure became obsolete. So as the phone calls became fewer and fewer and the fanfare disappeared. Freeman sold his home and traveled the United States in a camper making contact with previous patients to prove (or alleviate guilt) that his procedures had succeeded.

Be leery of brain poking!