Thursday, January 14, 2010

Finally, An Image of Phineas Gage

Filed under: the good old days...

If ever there was a strange case of a patient survival story unmatched by any other, the 1848 incident of Phineas Gage is surely it. While working on the construction of a railroad in Vermont, Gage accidentally detonated an explosive that sent an iron spear flying straight through his head and brain. He survived, apparently remaining conscious throughout the ordeal, but later exhibited strange changes in his personality. This has earned him the status as the one patient mentioned in about two thirds of introduction to psychology books. Recently the first known photo (daguerreotype, rather) of Gage has been identified and the Smithsonian magazine is running a fascinating story of how Flickr and a few observant folks helped discover it.

Read at Smithsonian: Phineas Gage: Neuroscience's Most Famous Patient...

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