The Railway Worker : Please DO NOT READ... - Pernicious Anaemi...

Pernicious Anaemia Society

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The Railway Worker

Narwhal10 profile image
10 Replies

Please DO NOT READ if you are a bit squeamish.

On 13 September 1848, a young man called Phineas Gage was at work in Vermont. He was an ‘efficient and capable’ railroad construction foreman and on that day was making roadbeds. The process involved using explosive powder and compressing it with an iron rod. Unfortunately, for Phineas an explosive detonated, the 43 inch rod penetrated his left cheek and beyond.

After the initial impact, Phineas stood up, spoke and with help got onto a cart and was taken to Dr Williams. He was amazed. Then another doctor took over his care. Once physically recovered from the injury, Gage* reapplied for his job. However, due to the insult to his brain, his personality changed. He lacked inhibition, swore, made poor decisions, judgement and became disrespectful.

Phineas Gage’s case was how doctors initially realised that the front of the brain (left and right frontal cortex) is responsible for language, decision-making, intelligence and reasoning.

Apparently, when Phineas met Dr Williams, he angled his head saying ‘Here’s business for you.’

When Pernicious Anaemia/B12 deficiency finally affects the front of the brain a person may have disinhibition, have difficulty with thoughts and language. (The patient will have presented many times to doctors). It is highly likely that the patient will be misdiagnosed with a psychiatric illness.

*N.B. A gage is an instrument for measuring the amount or level of something. For example: -

A concentration (mg/L)

or

(a)

CAPACITY.

Often Doctors are on the wrong Track.

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Narwhal10
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10 Replies
deniseinmilden profile image
deniseinmilden

Ah, superb!I love your extras at the end too!

stiff19 profile image
stiff19

too often ! Also why a doctor needs to know their patient ….

Rexz profile image
Rexz

Perfect!

But at least with an iron rod in his head he solved his iron deficiency problem. 😜

Jillymo profile image
Jillymo in reply toRexz

Where the hell do you get your witt from ?

That comment made me laugh. 😂

Your funny. 🤡

Rexz profile image
Rexz in reply toJillymo

Oh Jillymo, silly humor is what has gotten me through all this. Seems the sillier the better, for my own sanity anyway. 🤗I was also thinking Phineas might consider joining the migraine forum. 🙃

Narwhal10 profile image
Narwhal10 in reply toRexz

Fe Fi Fo Fum I smell the blood of an English man. Although more precisely, it’s FE2+ for iron. 🤪

Rexz profile image
Rexz in reply toNarwhal10

Yes, it was an FE2+ rod in Phineas' head. 🤗

FlipperTD profile image
FlipperTD

[With apologies in advance]

Doctor Fell fell down a well

And broke his collar bone.

Which proves that doctors should tend the sick

And leave the well alone.

Ramming explosive with iron is bound to end in tragedy sooner or later. Musket ramrods were made from wood, and tipped with brass, thus eliminating the risk of sparks. But even so, I bet that hurt. Cannon barrels were swabbed out with a soggy mop, for the same reason.

[I bet Phineas swore. I know I would. Then again, I already do, without his injury. He probably said more than 'ouch'] I recall a builder turning up in A/E, and when asked what was the problem, he said 'I've got a nail in my head'. Lifted his fringe, and there was the head of a nail, from a nail gun, in the middle of his forehead. He was said to be completely lucid. [I'm not sure whether they used a claw hammer to remove it.] Recovery was uneventful.

Happy days.

helvella profile image
helvella

Vermont means green mountain.

I imagine that, when blasted from the explosion, he got covered in dirt from the mountainside.

Did that make Phineas a green Gage?

Narwhal10 profile image
Narwhal10 in reply tohelvella

Maybe he felt a right gooseberry. 🤪

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