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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Treashunt, post: 25952932, member: 6763&quot;]The above is one of Quartermaster&#039;s mysterious quarter countermarks:</p><p>2001 Vermont quarter, countermark: 09-13-1848</p><p><br /></p><p>for those too lazy to use Google:</p><p><br /></p><p><font size="6"><b>Phineas Gage: The remarkable tale of an altered brain</b></font></p><p>By<a href="https://vermontdailychronicle.com/author/orthodoxtimgmailcom/" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://vermontdailychronicle.com/author/orthodoxtimgmailcom/" rel="nofollow">Timothy Page</a>on <a href="https://vermontdailychronicle.com/phineas-gage-the-remarkable-tale-of-an-altered-brain/" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://vermontdailychronicle.com/phineas-gage-the-remarkable-tale-of-an-altered-brain/" rel="nofollow">November 3, 2023</a> • ( <a href="https://vermontdailychronicle.com/phineas-gage-the-remarkable-tale-of-an-altered-brain/#comments" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://vermontdailychronicle.com/phineas-gage-the-remarkable-tale-of-an-altered-brain/#comments" rel="nofollow">2 Comments</a> )</p><p><img src="https://i0.wp.com/vermontdailychronicle.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Phineas_Gage_Cased_Daguerreotype_WilgusPhoto2008-12-19_EnhancedRetouched_Color-1.jpg?resize=639%2C750&amp;ssl=1" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><i>Gage and his “constant companion”‍—‌his inscribed tamping iron‍—‌sometime after 1849, seen in the portrait (identified in 2009) that “exploded the common image of Gage as a dirty, disheveled misfit”</i></p><p><b>by Timothy Page</b></p><p><br /></p><p>In the annals of neuroscience, one name stands out as a testament to the intricate relationship between the brain and behavior – legendary Vermonter Phineas Gage. A railroad construction foreman from the 19th century, Gage survived a horrific accident that forever altered our understanding of the human brain.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Life Before the Accident</b></p><p><br /></p><p>Phineas Gage was born to Jesse Eaton Gage and Hannah Trussell Gage in Grafton County, New Hampshire, on July 9, 1823. He was the youngest of five children. His family was of modest means, and he grew up in a farming community. He received a basic education during his childhood, but there is limited information available about his formal schooling. In his teenage years, he worked on his family’s farm and gained experience in manual labor. As he grew older, he developed a reputation for being hardworking and responsible.</p><p><br /></p><p>In the mid-1840s, Gage found employment in the emerging railroad industry. He started as a laborer but quickly rose to the position of a foreman due to his strong work ethic, leadership skills, and ability to effectively coordinate construction crews. His role as a foreman involved managing the workers and ensuring the smooth progress of construction projects, overseeing the manual labor involved in clearing the way for the tracks.</p><p><br /></p><p><img src="https://i0.wp.com/vermontdailychronicle.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/image-2.png?resize=639%2C380&amp;ssl=1" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><i>Item in Boston Post briefly relating accident which befell <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Phineas_Gage" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Phineas_Gage" rel="nofollow">Phineas Gage</a> September 13, 1848</i></p><p><b>The Accident</b></p><p><br /></p><p><img src="https://i0.wp.com/vermontdailychronicle.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Phineas_gage_-_1868_skull_diagram.jpg?resize=165%2C234&amp;ssl=1" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><i>By John M. Harlow, M.D.</i></p><p>On September 13, 1848, in Cavendish, Vermont, Phineas Gage was involved in a catastrophic accident that would change his life forever. As the foreman in charge of a railroad construction crew, Gage was tasked with blasting through rock formations to clear the way for the tracks. However, a fateful moment occurred when a spark ignited a premature explosion, propelling an iron rod straight through Gage’s skull, entering beneath the left cheekbone and exiting through the top of his head. Astonishingly, Gage survived this harrowing incident.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Physical Recovery</b></p><p><br /></p><p>Phineas Gage’s physical survival was nothing short of miraculous. Despite losing vision in his left eye, he was able to walk and talk, seemingly making a remarkable recovery. However, the true extent of his injuries would only become apparent in the months and years that followed.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Personality Transformation</b></p><p><br /></p><p>What made Phineas Gage’s case so extraordinary was the dramatic change in his personality and behavior following the accident. Previously described as a well-mannered, responsible, and dependable individual, Gage’s character underwent a profound shift. Friends and acquaintances observed him as irritable, impulsive, and lacking in social judgment. His once-promising career as a foreman came to a halt as he struggled to maintain employment due to his unpredictable nature.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Insights into Brain Function</b></p><p><br /></p><p>Phineas Gage’s unique case ignited scientific curiosity and opened up new avenues of research into the relationship between brain function and behavior. At the time, little was known about the brain’s intricate workings, and Gage’s case provided valuable evidence that specific brain regions were responsible for regulating personality traits and cognitive abilities.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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