Craniectomy for Idiocy, with Notes of a Case

Abstract

The boy R. H., of whose case I here give some brief notes, has recently (17th March, 1897) been admitted to the Royal Albert Asylum, and so has not yet received any special or systematic training; but, as it is now approaching two years since he underwent surgical treatment in the form of linear craniectomy for his mental defect, it seems worth while to record any changes in his mental and physical condition which have taken place since the operation, as we can thus, to some extent, arrive at an estimate of the degree of improvement more or less directly due to the surgical procedure. The boy has, however, both before and since the operation, had attentive care and ordinary home training under his parents' supervision. I may here mention that the fact of the boy's being operated on came about through the parents having read a tale in The Strand Magazine called “Creating a Mind”∗—a tale which I fear has given rise to exaggerated hopes in the minds of the parents of many idiot children.