Chinese mummy suggests brain surgery was carried out 3,600 years ago...

www.dailymail.co.uk ^ | Updated: 16:13 EST, 3 February 2015 | By Victoria Woollaston

[WayneS]

It does not appear the skull of this particular person healed. It still has a large hole in it...

[SWAMPSNIPER]

What does Constance Brennan have to say about this?

[SWAMPSNIPER]

[Redcitizen]

Mum’s the word.

[wildbill]

When they study these things, the part of the bone that shows no sharp edges is what they look at for ‘healing.’ The bone alone can’t grow back enough to cover a hole that large.

[grobdriver]

Taita probably did it, as part of his world travels searching for the Fountain of Youth.

[WayneS]

Ahhh.

Okay. I understand. The edges heal over leaving a permanent hole.

That’d certainly make bumping your head on a doorjamb an experience.

[Red Badger]

Kind like going to a barber college for a haircut.................

[colorado tanker]

There is a great scene in one of the Aubrey/Maturin novels where Dr. Maturin trepans a sailor who needs urgent surgery. The whole crew watches in total wonder. When the sailor recovered, the rather eccentric Doc had the complete devotion of the crew.

As the character explained it, though, it really isn't a very difficult procedure. Given the size of the hole in this poor fellow's head, however, I doubt this patient survived.