A news item from Toledo, Ohio, reads:
Skilled surgeons at St. Vincent’s hospital have transformed
Harold Hurley, the bad boy, into Harold Hurley, the good boy.
A few days ago, Harold, aged twelve, who was slated for the
Lancaster reform school, was taken to the hospital. To-day he
was taken home, a changed boy, different in thought, acts, and
even appearance.
Harold has been a problem to his mother and to the juvenile
court officers for some time. Probation Officer Dilgart got a
look at Harold recently and discovered a peculiar scar on the
boy’s forehead. Inquiry developed that when five years of age
Harold stumbled, and striking his head upon a stone, sustained a
fracture of the skull. Gradually he became bad; but instead of
being sent to Lancaster, he was removed to the hospital, where
the pressure of a broken bone on his brain was removed.
After the operation the lad’s faculties gathered slowly.
Dr. James Donnelly states that the pressure of the piece
of bone upon the brain had gradually dulled all the higher
sensibilities, and if it had gone on Harold would in time have
become an utter degenerate. (Text.)
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