I See by the Papers...

Gruesome surgery was almost as newsworthy as gruesome suicide attempts, and happily for the papers, physicians of 1904 were willing, even eager, to pop open your skull for a look-see; these two unfortunates weren't the only men who had their heads drilled that year. (For the record: "Trepanation" is the procedure of boring into some poor devil's noggin; a "trephine" is the surgical instrument used. The verb form that should have been used below is "trepan.")

Mr. Agerges appears to have survived, while Mr. Whalen did not.

WILL SCRAPE THE MAN'S SKULL BONE

YOUNGMAN COMMITTED TO NAPA ASYLUM FROM HERE WILL UNDERGO CRITICAL OPERATION
Physicans Decide That Operation is Necessary and Patient Will Either Be Killed or Cured

Agerges, the young Greek, who was committed to the Napa asylum last week, is to undergo a critical operation in a few days which may or may not cost him his life. He is the young man who wandered into F. Nieland's house near Reclamation recently and burglarised the place, took a bath and wore away Nieland's clothes. He was found to be insane.

[illegible damaged microfilm] Agerges was injured by the explosion of a blast and the physicans over at Napa have decided to trephine the skull for the purpose of scraping the bone, which was probably hurt in some way by the accident. Em P. Apostolides, of this city has received word that the operation will take place.

- Press Democrat, January 29, 1904

THE MAN WAS VERY SERIOUSLY HURT

WILL HAVE TO TREPHINE PORTION OF WHALEN'S SKULL TO ASCERTAIN INJURY
Man's Legs Are Both Paralyzed and He Had Not Fully Regained Consciousness on Wednesday

Mike Whalen, the man who was found near the railroad track at Camp Meeker and who was brought to the county hospital, was far more seriously injured than was thought at first. Both of his legs are paralyzed and he had not fully regained his senses on Wednesday. Dr. Jesse believes that he will have to trephine a portion of the man's skull as it is evident that he was seriously hurt there. Whalen is well known here and at Occidental and had been somewhat of a character.

- Press Democrat, February 4, 1904