Trephination of the living human skull in prehistoric times / [Thomas Wilson Parry].

  • Parry, T. Wilson (Thomas Wilson), 1866-1945.
Date:
[1923]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Trephination of the living human skull in prehistoric times / [Thomas Wilson Parry]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    a hole in the skull with a sharp-pointed flake of flint. Where flint was not indigenous, as in volcanic regions, flakes of obsidian or rhyolite glass were substituted. I may here add that in the South Pacific Islands shell used to be used at times, and after the white man’s visit to some of these islands where he introduced glass bottles, bits of glass were chipped into shape, and these made excellent imple¬ ments for scraping purposes. Whichever of these four materials be employed, they are all used precisely in the same way. The flint or obsidian flake is held between the thumb and index-finger of the right hand, and scratches are made in a single line on the chosen site of the operation. These scratches quickly fashion a groove, and the sides of the groove have next to be attacked, when this single furrow becomes converted into a basin-like ellipse. This is deepened and widened till the diploe is disclosed, and further deepened till the inner table of the skull is reached. The point of the flint-flake is now used as a probe to test the depth of the vitreous or inner table. The primitive surgeon is able to tell when this is reached by a peculiar crackling of this glass-like layer which warns him that he must proceed cautiously, so as not to injure the dura mater. The primitive operator became eminently skilful by his careful procedure, as is evidenced by the very large number of skulls discovered which show perfect holes and healthy healing of the bone, verifying a successful operation. This method was found to be suitable for the making of small holes in the skull, and these are usually found to be either circular or oval in shape. An example of this method is illustrated by the “ Thames ” specimen dredged from this river at a spot just above where Hammersmith Bridge now stands. Here are two examples from France. I show you one successful case and another one clearly demonstrating a septic periosteitis, which appears, however, to have even¬ tually recovered. I show you specimens from the South Pacific Islands—the holes of which were scraped with obsidian flakes ; also one from Egypt (Dynastic period) which exhibits a depressed fracture which has been treated by sawing away the depressed portion and trimming the edges by scraping with a flint flake. The Egyptians for long after the pre- dynastic period would not suffer metal to touch either a living or a dead body—indeed, they used to employ stone knives and flint saws in the process of embalming. I also show you specimens of Inca origin. One has three openings, and another shows evidence of five well-formed holes which I think may be regarded as a champion specimen that has beaten every other record in this respect. (2) The “ Push-plough ” method.—For the making of larger and sometimes even gigantic holes in the living skull, I am convinced that the scraping method could never have been employed. It would be too tedious for the operator (as well as for the operatee), and much too dangerous. It has been a subject of considerable question as to how these very large
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