John M. Harlow, M.D.

“ One of the attendants implored me not to do anything more for him, as it would only prolong his sufferings–that if I would only keep away and let him alone, he would die. She said he appeared like "water on the brain." I said it is not water, but matter that is killing the man–so with a pair of curved scissors I cut off the fungi which were sprouting out from the top of the brain and filling the opening, and made free application of caustic to them. ”

“ I indulge the hope, that surely but little if anything was done to retard the progress of the ease, or to interfere with the natural recuperative powers. Nature is certainly greater than art. Some one has wisely said, that vain is learning without wit. So may we say, vain is art without nature. ”

“ A child in his intellectual capacity and manifestations, he has the animal passions of a strong man. Previous to his injury, though untrained in the schools, he possessed a well-balanced mind, and was looked upon by those who knew him as a shrewd, smart business man, very energetic and persistent in executing all his plans of operation. In this regard his mind was radically changed, so decidedly that his friends and acquaintances said he was "no longer Gage." ”

“ Gage was foreman of a gang of men employed in excavating rock, for the road way. The circumstances were briefly as follows:–
He was engaged in charging a hole drilled in the rock for the purpose of blasting, sitting at the time upon a shelf of rock above the hole. His men were engaged in the pit, a few feet behind him, loading rock upon a platform car, with a derrick. The powder and fuse had been adjusted in the hole, and he was in the act of "tamping it in," as it is called, previous to pouring in the sand. While doing this, his attention was attracted by his men in the pit behind him. ”

“ P. Gage, a perfectly healthy, strong and active young man, twenty-five years of age, nervobilious temperament, five feet six inches in height, average weight one hundred and fifty pounds, possessing an iron will as well as an iron frame; muscular system unusually well developed–having had scarcely a day’s illness from his childhood to the date of this injury. ”

“ Head very hot. Says "he shall not live long so." 23d, I find he has rested and been quiet the most of the night. Appears stronger and more rational. Pulse, which has varied from 60 to 84 since the injury, I find at 80. The scalp was reshaven and the edges of the wound brought into apposition as nearly as possible, the edges having sloughed away. The discharge less in quantity, and less fœtid.
At this date, ten days after the injury, vision of the left eye, though quite indistinct before, was totally lost. Up to this time it had not occurred to me that is was possible for Gage to recover. ”

“ He took to travelling, and visited Boston, most of the larger New England towns, and New York, remaining awhile in the latter place at Barnum's, with his iron. In 1851 he engaged with Mr. Jonathan Currier, of Hanover, New Hampshire, to work in his livery stable. He remained there, without any interruption from ill health, for nearly or quite a year and a half.
In August, 1852, nearly four years after his injury, he turned his back upon New England, never to return. He engaged with a man who was going to Chili, in South America, to establish a line of coaches at Valparaiso. ”

“ Fungi disappearing; discharging laudable pus from openings. Takes more food, sleeps well, and says he shall soon go home. Remembers passing and past events correctly, as well before as since the injury. Intellectual manifestations feeble, being exceedingly capricious and childish, but with a will as indomitable as ever; is particularly obstinate; will not yield to restraint when it conflicts with his desires. ”

“ The head had been dressed by myself three times every day; ice water kept on the head and face; the discharges carefully cleaned off, externally, while the attendants washed the mouth and fauces as often as necessary, with water and disinfecting solutions. ”