Harriet Tubman Received Brain Surgery

For John, BLUF:  Every day seems to reveal more of what she experienced and saw.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Yesterday, Law Professor Ann Althouse said "I'd like to hear Ben Carson talk about Harriet Tubman's brain surgery."

I wonder how sophisticated the surgery could have been in the late 1890s.  Here we have this wonderful brain surgeon, Ben Carson, on a show to talk about Harriet Tubman, and there was a fascinating subject squarely within his expertise.  I would have loved to hear what he might have said about the history of brain surgery!

She did go to Massachusetts General Hospital, and without anesthesia, "chose instead to bite down on a bullet, as she had seen Civil War soldiers do when their limbs were amputated."

Tough woman.  And the surgery seems to have helped her deal with the lingering effects of a head injury received when she was a slave.

Hat tip to Ann Althouse.

Regards  —  Cliff