The Real Dr. Frankenstein

Long before the invention of mind-numbing tranquilizers such as Ritalin, there was an operation known as the transorbital lobotomy. Quite simply, ice picks were hammered into the eye socket, underneath the upper lids. The picks were then rotated in circles. This was supposed to cure mental illness. Often, however, it created a mindless automaton. One of the most famous lobotomy failures was Rosemary Kennedy, who was forced to spend her entire post-operation life under constant medical supervision.

The transorbital lobotomy was first performed by Dr. Walter J. Freeman in 1946. He did the operation in his office, and sent the victim--er--patient home in a taxi. Dr. Freeman's son reports that the surgical instrument used was in fact an ice pick. Amazingly, Dr. Freeman not only remained out of prison, he went on to do thousands of lobotomies, ruining countless minds and finally killing a patient.

One of his patients was a 12 year old boy named Howard Dully. He tells his story here: http://www.soundportraits.org/on-air/my_lobotomy/page3.php3