Historical vignette. The neurosurgeon's neurosurgeon: cushing operates on a Penfield

In his autobiography, Dr. Wilder Penfield relates the medical history of his sister, Mrs. Ruth Inglis, who developed a right frontal oligodendroglioma. Penfield performed the initial craniotomy on her, and after her death, reported the case in a paper on frontal lobe function in humans. Although Penfield has provided more than adequate information on certain aspects of his sister's illness, little has been published concerning her subsequent operation performed by Dr. Harvey Cushing at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital. We feel this case is significant for several reasons. First, it sheds some light on Penfield's personal relationship with Cushing and his sister; it also shows the deep interest that Dr. Cushing took in his patients. Second, this case nicely illustrates how Cushing used his postoperative drawings to make his operative notes more precise. Finally, we see a sample of the work done by Dr. Louise Eisenhardt as pathologist at the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital.