944 Dynamic Theory. 



they are abandoned in turn for others appearing more feasible. A child 

 in his intellectual capacity and manifestations, he has the animal pas- 

 sions 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 his plans. In this regard his mind was 

 radically changed, so that his friends said he was no longer Gage. He 

 was accustomed to entertain his little nephews and nieces with the most 

 fabulous recitals of his most wonderful feats and hair-breadth escapes, 

 without any foundation except in faucy. 



After trying various occupations he went to South America in 1852, 

 four years after the injury, and during the next eight years was occu- 

 pied in caring for horses, often driving a coach and six. During the 

 year 1860 his health failed somewhat, apparently from hardship and ex- 

 posure, and he removed to San Francisco. His health improved some- 

 what, but in February, 1861, while sitting at dinner he fell in a fit, and 

 soon after had two or three fits in succession. He had no premonition 

 of these attacks, or any subsequent ill feeling ; had been plowing the 

 day before the first attack. He got better in a few days, and continued 

 to work in various places ; could not do much, changing often, and al- 

 ways finding something that did not suit him, in every place he tried. 

 On May 20th, 1861, he had a series of convulsions, apparently epilep- 

 tic, lasting until the evening of May 21st, when he died 12 years, 8 

 months, and 8 days after the date of an injury which had destroyed the 

 anterior and part of the middle lobe of the left cerebral hemisphere. 

 Unfortunately his brain was not examined, but the openings in the skull 

 well indicate the extent to which one-half of the brain was destroyed. 5<1 



There is nothing to show in the above case, that any part of the 

 memory was impaired ; not even the memory of motor speech, although 

 it is highly improbable that the Isle of Reil, on the left side, escaped in- 

 jury. If it did not, we are bound to conclude that in this case the 

 motor organs of speech were operated from the right side alone after 

 the accident, and that before the accident it at least participated in the 

 speech function. He lost by the accident a part of his moral sense ; 

 that is, he thereafter failed to perceive the real relationship between 

 himself and others, shown by his irreverence and want of deference, 

 his profanity, impatience of restraint and advice, disregard for the 

 truth, obstinacj^ wilfulness, &c. He also lost his persistence of .pur- 

 pose, and became fitful and impulsive. In short, he became in many 

 respects as a child, or an untutored savage. From this we may learn 

 that the moral and stable elements of character are acquired, and de- 



1 The account of the above case is published in the reports of the Mass. Med. Society, 

 Vol. 2, No. Ill , page 330. The skull and the identical bar which was blown through it, 

 are preserved at the Warren Anatomical Museum of Harvard University. 



