The Fateful Incident
On September 13, 1848, Phineas P. Gage, a 25-year-old railroad construction foreman, was preparing a charge at a blasting site near Cavendish, Vermont. An accidental explosion dislodged a 3-foot iron tamping rod, which struck his left cheek and exited through the top of his head. Gage was rendered unconscious.
Medical Observations
After regaining consciousness, he received medical treatment from Dr. John Martyn Harlow, who recorded his condition in detail. Medical notes documented that despite severe cranial injury and damage to brain tissue, Gage survived and exhibited behavioral changes recorded by his physicians.
Life After the Accident
Gage lived for 12 more years, and his daily activities and behavioral adjustments were recorded by contemporaries. His case was documented in medical literature and contributed to early discussions on the brain’s function in personality. The factual records of his accident and recovery are preserved in 19th-century medical archives. Additional medical reports over the following years detailed his physical recovery and noted ongoing behavioral differences.
On September 13, 1848, a dramatic accident shocked Vermont. Railroad foreman Phineas P. Gage survived a 3-foot iron rod blasting through his head, leaving him forever changed. His survival challenges what was known about the brain.🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/lOMNgGXSSD
— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) February 5, 2025