Cutting the Stone: Hieronymus Bosch (c 1490)

In the year 1460-1516, Greek physician Claudius Galenos (129-199) led the idea that the 'evil falling sickness stone' know as epilepsy could be surgically removed.

The painting above depicts a “quack” medical personnel cutting the "flower of folly" from the head of a patient. As the mania escapes from the head, a clergyman representing the church helps by invoking help from the saints for complete healing.

Medical Care Available: The “quack” medical personnel travelled around the countryside offering to perform the surgery by removing the stone responsible for the condition. The stone was removed through trepidation, or drilling a whole into an individual’s skull and literally removing the “stone.”

SOCIAL ISSUES:

The dangerously insane were incarcerated and locked away from society, often under horrendous living conditions, most of the mentally ill were kept at home with their families in familiar environments.

IMPACT OF EPILEPSY ON THE INDIVIDUAL

The diagnosis can result in many psychological difficulties. Epilepsy is a hidden and invisible disability, as no symptoms are apparent except during a seizure. It often has no apparent cause, which results in a fear of the unknown. This condition can result in low self-esteem and can result in perception of self as less competent than others and self-categorization as an “epileptic” and consequent perception of stigma.

References:

1. Bosch's Stone Operation: meaning, medicine, and morality. Hektoen International. http://hekint.org/2017/01/24/boschs-stone-operation-meaning-medicine-and-morality/. Accessed October 14, 2018.

Francis: While I really like a lot of Bosch's paintings this particular one really strikes a chord. Even today some patients still undergo "surgery" to rid themselves of the disease symptoms. seems similar to lobotomy in some senses to "cure" the disease. Kevin Glick

As Kevin said, this sounds very reminiscent of lobotomies to cure aggressive behavior. This is also similar to the practice of blood letting where the patient was intentionally cut the individual to drain the blood in hopes to rid the body of evil spirits that were causing the disease. It is unfortunate that medicine caused more damage in the past then it cured. Dustin Jones

Thanks Dustin,

Many readers will tell you that cutting the Stone is its an accurate portrayal of life in all it’s cruelty and wonder.

Francis Asielue

I agree with Dustin that this procedure caused more damage than it cured. Not only did it not address seizures or epilepsy in any way, it also a prime vector for introduction of bacteria for serious infections, and antibiotic treatments weren't available then!

Lisa Chang

Yes Lisa,With several cases of this surgery, I think several lives would have been lost. Thanks to medical advancement , people with this condition can now be properly cared for..

Hi Lisa,

It is an interesting procedure that I have to admit never hear of it before and as you mentioned it seemed causing more damage to the patient than it cured. I cannot imagine going through this invasive procedure without pain medications and anesthetics and antibiotics. It certainly can cause more damage and harm to the patient than helping with seizure.

Simon Rasho

Hi Dustin and Lisa,

I agree with you that this procedure for sure caused more damage than cure and the chances that it did any good is almost zero. But what really surprises me that it doesn't seem to be just one time procedure it looks like many people have gone through it. And here comes the question, if they have seen no benefit from it and those who had it died, why other people kept accepting to do it, was the pain so unbearable that they would try anything and just hope it will work or they were forced to do it as they may have been considered shameful on the society having these seizures (it might have been considered a curse or something); who knows.

Sherry Sobhy

Hey Francis,

One of the myths surrounding epilepsy is that it is a curse/punishment from the gods! Your post corroborates my finding along those lines, thus it's not surprising that in Greek mythology, quack carpenter turned surgeons undertake to exorcise the devil from peoples heads. What un-imaginable fate all because of ignorance!

Tosh BOLANLE

Hi Tosh

I agree with you that epilepsy is being surrounded by myths and is still considered an a curse from god is various parts of my country (India) too.

Deepa Pednekar

And now that each of you have a much better insight, it will be a responsibility for education, and care of the whole person. Not just seizures and not just blood levels of the drug. These windows into history through art are a reminder that sometimes we feel we have advanced practice, and sometimes I wonder. Ruth Nemire