A WILLIAMSPORT man has surprised the scientists by living for years without a brain. John Bly, aged twenty years, who died recently, had suffered for a long time with a tumor, which grew into the very base of the brain and occasioned his death. The growth had a visible effect upon his brain, and the case became a curiosity to the medical profession. The tumor was imbedded too deeply into the brain tissues to admit of an operation. It was found that the tumor was nearly as large as a billiard ball. It was so located as to demoralize the nerves of the sight centre, and, as a consequence young Bly was blind for over three years.. . . .
The circumstance which made the case almost unprecedented in the annals of medical science was the manner in which the patient retained his rationality and faculties under the circumstances. He had the senses of touch, taste, hearing and smell, had very tolerable control of his locomotor muscles, could talk, and, in fact, was comparatively discommoded in no other way than by the loss of vision. His retention of memory was remarkable. He was able to memorize poems up to within two weeks of his death.—Wilkesbarre Record.
