Face to face with Phineas Gage

J Hist Neurosci. 2009 Jul;18(3):340-5. doi: 10.1080/09647040903018402.

Abstract

We present here a reproduction of a daguerreotype of Phineas Gage that came into our possession more than 30 years ago. It is, as far as we know, the only image of this famous patient. We describe how we identified the subject in the image, describe how daguerreotypes are made and set out our comparisons of the image with the Phineas Gage life mask and tamping iron held in the Warren Anatomical Museum, Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine.

Publication types

  • Biography
  • Historical Article
  • Portrait

MeSH terms

  • Accidents, Occupational / history*
  • Adult
  • Blast Injuries / history*
  • Foreign Bodies / history*
  • Head Injuries, Penetrating / history*
  • History, 19th Century
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Medicine in the Arts*
  • Photography / history*
  • Railroads / history*
  • Vermont

Personal name as subject

  • Phineas Gage