Tamping iron that caused the injury to Phineas Gage, 1848

Tamping iron that caused the injury to Phineas Gage, 1848

Metal iron bar that passed through the head of Phineas Gage in museum display mount

Gage, Phineas

Industrial accidents

Brain--Wounds and injuries

Personality change

Brain Injuries, Traumatic

Long cast iron bar tapered at one end and blunted at the other end. The bar is etched with an inscription that has been painted white. It rests in a brass and wood mount.

Long tapered iron in an exhibit mount.

Unknown

Gage, Phineas

Harlow, J. M. (John Martyn), 1819-1907

1848, circa

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Foreign bodies

object

1

Cast iron

physical object

Warren Anatomical Museum Catalog Number: 03106

The tamping iron was cast by a blacksmith in Cavendish, Vermont for Phineas Gage circa 1848. In 1850, during his examination by Henry Jacob Bigelow, Gage donated the iron to the Warren Anatomical Museum. Circa 1854 the iron was returned to Gage at his request. In 1867, Phineas Gage's mother, Hannah Trussell Swetland Gage, gave the iron to Phineas Gage's former physician, John Martyn Harlow. Harlow donated the iron, and Phineas Gage's skull, to the Warren Anatomical Museum in 1868.

This is the bar that was shot through the head of Mr. Phinehas P Gage at Cavendish Vermont Sept 14, 1848. He fully recovered from the injury & deposited this bar in the Museum of the Medical College of Harvard University.
Phinehas P. Gage
Lebanon Grafton Cy N.H.
Jan 6 1850