Hi I wonder if there is anyway on the basis of such anthropological data to determine whether such surgeries were actually successful ... in the perhaps modern sense of leading to better outcomes than non-intervention (i.e., a "control" group)? The fact that some proportion of people who underwent the procedure lived as indicated by healing is insufficient to choose between helped, hurt, or had no effect. There were many "medical" practices in the past that were harmful yet people managed to survive.
I also wonder about how specific this treatment was, which would have implications for the "knowledge" underlying the surgery? If someone had a pain in the belly, for example, would a treatment involve opening up the belly? Unfortunately soft tissue operations analogous to trepanation presumably leave no anthropological record. I'm thinking that a procedure specific to the skull might imply more sophisticated knowledge than a blanket approach to any localized pain. Take care Jim James M. Clark Professor of Psychology 204-786-9757 204-774-4134 Fax [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>> "Christopher D. Green" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 17-May-08 8:32:45 PM >>> "A new study by two American anthropologists now provides evidence that the Incas performed trepanation to treat head injuries; that the procedure was far more common than was previously thought; and that the Incan practitioners of trepanation were highly skilled surgeons with a detailed knowledge of the anatomy of the skull.... Of these 411 skulls, 66 exhibited perforations of varying shape and size. More than half were circular, but some were oval or irregularly circular, and one (above) was rectangular. The diameters of the circular holes ranged from approximately 0.3 - 7.3 cm. In all, 109 holes were observed in the 66 skulls, and there was one individual with 7 trepanations." For the entire /Neurophilosophy/ article, see: http://scienceblogs.com/neurophilosophy/2008/05/prehistoric_peruvian_trepanati.php Chris Green York U. Toronto --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([EMAIL PROTECTED])
