hat many patients were transformed by the lobotomy into inactive individuals without initiative.Some out of the many surgeons and psychosurgeons included in this phenomenon were Dr. Freeman, Dr. Moniz and Dr. Watts. Watts was the surgeon and Freeman often observed ad made sure everything was okay. During the latter part of 1937 they, dr. Freeman and dr. Watts came up with the “Freeman-Watts Standard Lobotomy.” The brain was approached from the lateral surface of the skull rather than the top, as in the Moniz procedure. “Burr” holes were drilled in both sides of the cranium at points designated by distances in millimeters from “landmarks” on the skull. A six-inch cannula, the tubing from a heavy gauge hypodermic needle, was inserted through one hoe and aimed toward the hole on the opposite side of the head. The cannula was inserted about two and a half inches into the brain and, if no fluid oozed out (fluid indicating that the anterior horn of the lateral ventricle had been penetrated), it was lowered to the bony (sphenoidal) ridge at the base of the skull. The cannula was then withdrawn, and a blunt spatula-much like the calibrated butter knife-was inserted about two inches into the track left by the cannula. Care had to be taken to avoid damaging major arteries located near the midline of the brain. After the spatula was inserted, it’s handle was swung upward so that the blade could be drawn along the base of the skull, and a cut was made as far to the side as possible. The spatula was than withdrawn, and the site was rinsed. That was the first of four quadrants to be cut-two on each side of the brain. They worked under local anesthesia. They often spoke to their patients and asked them to sing or subtract simple numbers. (149-151) There were many other procedures besides that of Freeman and Watts. Other doctors used fluids for prefrontal lobotomy and others used and open surgery approach so ...
