I've been working on the railroad, all the live long day! I've been working on the railroad, until a 3'8" tamping rod is blown right through my brain!... wait a minute those aren't the lyrics.
Well if your name happens to be Phineas P. Gage and you work as a blasting foreman during the great western railroad expansions in the United States then those lyrics hit a lot closer to home than you might think. In a freak accident on just a normal day of work, Gage's trusty tamping rod was blown straight through his brain before landing 30 yards away. After what amounted to a little lie down, an unbothered Gage simply stood up and walked back home to get some medical attention. And after the whole ordeal, Gage would live for almost another 12 years before finally succumbing to his injuries.
Join Hayley this week as she recounts the explosive life of Phineas P. Gage, all the way from his birth until his death and everything in between. From the freak accident itself and the methods employed to try and save his life, all the way to how we understand how the brain works and the frontal lobe's role in our every day lives. So strap in for this incredible tale, and maybe don't listen to this episode while you're chomping down on your dinner... you can thank me later.
This episode was presented by Hayley O'Connor and joined by Arron Keegan and Conor Daly. The intro and outro music - Strollin' Along - was recorded by David Renda. Make sure to follow us on social media! Just search for That's Old News on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter/X!
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Chapters
(00:00) Intro
(11:36) Phineas Gage and U.S. Railroad Expansion West
(19:48) Gage's Job and the Blasting Accident
(30:39) Dr John Martyn Harlow and Gage's Recovery
(45:02) Gage's Changing Mood and the Impact on Neuroscience
(54:43) Deteriorating Health, Death, and his Lasting Impact on Science
(58:54) Post Show Banter
