TRANSACTIOXS OF SECTION H. 913 



anterior margin, wbicli just overlapped the temporal ridge, was exactly one inch 

 from the outer angle of the orbit. The exterior edge of the concavity, which 

 measured about au inch in diameter, was slightly raised above the normal surface 

 of the surrounding bone, and presented an appearance somewhat like an everted 

 lip. This lip was a particularly noteworthy feature, as it was the result of a patho- 

 logical process, which could only taiie place in the liviug body. The actual perfora- 

 tion, which did not exceed a quarter of an inch in its greatest diameter, took the 

 form of a bluntly defined triangle bounded by thin edges. 



From a careful study of these facts, no experienced surgeon, Dr. Munro main- 

 tained, could come to any other conclusion than that this perforation had been in- 

 tentionally performed on the living subject, and that the subject survived the opera- 

 tion for a considerable time, possibly many years. In other words, they had here 

 the unwritten records of a successful case of trepanning in the early Bronze Age ; 

 but for what purpose the operation was performed there was no evidence to show. 



But, however correct this induction might be, it was onl}' a single example on 

 which it was founded, and, consequently, the evidence was inadequate to prove the 

 wider generalisation which it was the author's object in his communication to 

 establish, viz., that trepanning the human skull for therapeutic purposes was not 

 an uncommon surgical operation among the Neolithic inhabitants of Europe. Such 

 a generalisation must be based on a number of examples widely distributed both 

 in space and time, and to these the author then hriefly referred. Commencing with 

 the year 1878, when Dr. Prunieres first directed attention to a worked piece of a 

 human skull from a dolmen at Lozere, he traced the gradual development of opinion 

 on this subject as influenced by the various subsequent discoveries till 1876, when 

 Dr. Paul Broca delivered his memorable address at the International Congress of 

 Prehistoric Archasology at Buda-Pesth, and finally demonstrated that the prehistoric 

 people of France practised two forms of trepanning — one during life (trepanation 

 chirurgicale) and the other after death {trepanation posthume). Since Broca's time 

 further evidence in support of this opinion has come to light, and the story in the 

 hands of Dr. Munro is carried down to the present time. The various hypotheses 

 as to the object for which the operation was performed were then discussed, and it 

 was finally shown that in some cases at least the motive was a pure surgical 

 purpose. The author concluded his paper as follows : — 



' On a previous occasion, when treating of the lake dwellings of Europe, I drew 

 Bpecial attention to the advanced state of the culture and civilisation which their 

 remains indicated. A similar reflection is now suggested by the facts which I havo 

 just brought under your notice. It is impossible to suppose that the widely scat- 

 tered races inhabiting primeval Europe — a country then so inaccessible owing to 

 its impenetrable forests and marshes, impassable mountains, and great rivers — could 

 have developed at so many independent centres a custom indicative of such a high 

 order of speculative intelligence. It is therefore to the original home of the 

 Neolithic civilisation, wherever that may be, that we must look for the origin of the- 

 custom of trepanning the human skull, and even there its antiquity would be 

 probably lost in the long vista of preceding ages.' ' 



9. On the Use of Narcotics by the Nicolar Islanders, and certain 

 Deformations connected tkerexvith. By E. H. Man. 



Mr. E. H. Man gave an account of the use of narcotics by the Nicoharesp, 

 notably in connection with the habit common among so many of the races of 

 Transgangetic India and the Archipelago of taking frequent quids of betel-nut 

 and quicklime throughout the day ; so firm a hold has this practice on both sexes 

 that ' betel-quid-taking-time ' is a recognised expression, signifying an interval of 

 some fifteen minutes' duration. Betel-chewing is commenced at the early ago of 

 ten or twelve, but instances are by no means rare of children who havo acquireil 



' This paper, in extenso, will be published in the Pro:ecdi'ngs of the Society of 

 Antiquaries of Scotland, vol. ssvi. 1891-92. 



1892. 3 N 



