February 11, 1947 - 'New Vistas' Found in Relieving PAIN by Brain Surgery
as published in the Buffalo Evening News
'NEW VISTAS' FOUND IN RELIEVING PAIN BY BRAIN SURGERY
By Ed Kelly
Dr. Walter Freeman, of Washington, the neurologist who first introduced the controversial brain surgery known as pre-frontal lobotomy into the United States, declared Monday Evening that the operation has opened "new vistas" in the relief of excruciating pain which accompanies aumerous physical ailmets.
The same psychosurgial method which Dr. Freeman said has been successful in restoring many mental cases to usefulness in society is being used to remove "the fear of pain which is often as great as the pain itself" in patients suffering from cancer, phantom limb, neuralgia of the face, causalgia and conditions developed by amputees.
The 51-year-old president of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and professor of neurology at George Washington University, paused here, en route to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., to address more than 125 members and guests of the Malmonedes Medical Society of Buffalo in Hotel Westbrook.
Fibers Are Severed
Pre-frontal lobotomy, devised by a Portuguese neurlogist, Egas Moniz, and brought here ten years ago, is the surgical severing of the fibers which connect the emotional centers of the brain (thalamus) to the frontal portion of the brain. Cutting these fibers, Dr. Freeman said, stops the emotional charge of fear that accompanies a person's ideas.
The cases in which the operation has been employed to reduce pain have shown "gratifying results," Dr. Freeman said. Patients complain of "twinges rather than agony" after the operation. Others say the pain has left them.
"The operation removes the fear of pain, and the pain thus becomes bearable," explained Dr. Freeman. The operations in which he assests ?? neurologist are preformed by Dr. James W. Watts, professor of neurological surgery at George Washington University.
Criticism Recalled
In 1937, when he reported in New York to the Academy of Medicine on the operation's place in treating the mentally ill, Dr. Freeman recalled he was roundly critized for "lack of orthodxy."
"Some still don't believe in the operation, but most of the criticism abated as the true value of the treatment become apparent."
Emphasizing that the operation is restricted to certain mental types and does not cure all kinds of psychoses or neuroses, the speaker said more than 2000 have been performed in the country, 50 of them in Buffalo. About 300 surgeons are qualified to do the operation which requires special training.
Dr. Freeman said 50% of the mental patients (most of them institution cases) operated on are capable of rejoining society and of holding a job or keeping house. Some return to their former positions as teachers, lawyers or businessman.
Become More Content
About 25% remain at home in their protective environment. The remainder stay in the hospital. Mortality in the opeartion is 3%.
"The operation produces surgically-induced childhood during convalescence," in neurologist said, "but the reintegration of the personality follows and the patients grow up with gratifying rapidity.
"With their emotional fear and concern over personal matters removed, they are matter-of-fact individuals, more content, not too imaginative, cheerful, agreeable, but inclined to be outspoken and undiplomatic."
Statistics show, Dr. Freeman said, that 10% of the patients in Buffalo State Hospital could be discharged and at work in society by means of the operation. If the treatment were applied on a large scale, he said, the institution could save $150,000 in terms of broken and ruined equipment and injured personnel.
'NEW VISTAS' FOUND IN RELIEVING PAIN BY BRAIN SURGERY
By Ed Kelly
Dr. Walter Freeman, of Washington, the neurologist who first introduced the controversial brain surgery known as pre-frontal lobotomy into the United States, declared Monday Evening that the operation has opened "new vistas" in the relief of excruciating pain which accompanies aumerous physical ailmets.
The same psychosurgial method which Dr. Freeman said has been successful in restoring many mental cases to usefulness in society is being used to remove "the fear of pain which is often as great as the pain itself" in patients suffering from cancer, phantom limb, neuralgia of the face, causalgia and conditions developed by amputees.
The 51-year-old president of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and professor of neurology at George Washington University, paused here, en route to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., to address more than 125 members and guests of the Malmonedes Medical Society of Buffalo in Hotel Westbrook.
Fibers Are Severed
Pre-frontal lobotomy, devised by a Portuguese neurlogist, Egas Moniz, and brought here ten years ago, is the surgical severing of the fibers which connect the emotional centers of the brain (thalamus) to the frontal portion of the brain. Cutting these fibers, Dr. Freeman said, stops the emotional charge of fear that accompanies a person's ideas.
The cases in which the operation has been employed to reduce pain have shown "gratifying results," Dr. Freeman said. Patients complain of "twinges rather than agony" after the operation. Others say the pain has left them.
"The operation removes the fear of pain, and the pain thus becomes bearable," explained Dr. Freeman. The operations in which he assests ?? neurologist are preformed by Dr. James W. Watts, professor of neurological surgery at George Washington University.
Criticism Recalled
In 1937, when he reported in New York to the Academy of Medicine on the operation's place in treating the mentally ill, Dr. Freeman recalled he was roundly critized for "lack of orthodxy."
"Some still don't believe in the operation, but most of the criticism abated as the true value of the treatment become apparent."
Emphasizing that the operation is restricted to certain mental types and does not cure all kinds of psychoses or neuroses, the speaker said more than 2000 have been performed in the country, 50 of them in Buffalo. About 300 surgeons are qualified to do the operation which requires special training.
Dr. Freeman said 50% of the mental patients (most of them institution cases) operated on are capable of rejoining society and of holding a job or keeping house. Some return to their former positions as teachers, lawyers or businessman.
Become More Content
About 25% remain at home in their protective environment. The remainder stay in the hospital. Mortality in the opeartion is 3%.
"The operation produces surgically-induced childhood during convalescence," in neurologist said, "but the reintegration of the personality follows and the patients grow up with gratifying rapidity.
"With their emotional fear and concern over personal matters removed, they are matter-of-fact individuals, more content, not too imaginative, cheerful, agreeable, but inclined to be outspoken and undiplomatic."
Statistics show, Dr. Freeman said, that 10% of the patients in Buffalo State Hospital could be discharged and at work in society by means of the operation. If the treatment were applied on a large scale, he said, the institution could save $150,000 in terms of broken and ruined equipment and injured personnel.
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