Chapter 13 Chapter Twelfth Skull Piercing - Part 1: The Seeker of Ability

This person came to the door by himself. It seems to be a relative of a friend of a friend. Anyway, he found me after many detours. It is similar to the relationship of "I am the neighbor of Superman's cousin friend". He is well-dressed, clean and tidy, in his 30s to 40s, and he looks like the smart and wise type.It feels like it should belong to people who are successful in their careers, but not the kind of people who are struggling on the line of food and clothing—I mean the expression and demeanor.His purpose for finding me was simple...but then things got complicated. After exchanging pleasantries, he cut to the point cleanly.

Him: "You know about skull piercings, right?" Me: "Brain surgery?" He's right." What's wrong with me?" He: "I want to do it, but it's not because of illness, but because I want to do it." Me: "Are you talking about those tattoo lovers abroad? I advise you not to do it." He: "It's not that kind, it's related to theology and religion." I have a vague impression in my mind, as if I have talked about it in some class and read some relevant materials, but there are very few, and I just passed it by. Me: "Ancient European?"

He: "Yes, it seems that you still know something, and many people don't know." Me: "Actually, I don't know much..." Him: "How much do you know?" Me: "I only know that it has something to do with religion. Anyway, it's about punching holes in the head, and there are also whole craniotomies..." He: "Well, that's right. In fact, craniotomy existed thousands of years ago. There are various ways of craniotomy, including drilling, removing a piece, and simply opening the entire skull. The original purpose was because there was no It is recorded, so it has not been well understood in the archaeological community, and it may be for the relief of headaches or for a fashion. However, there are records in this regard in Europe several centuries ago, and they are still very detailed."

Me: "Well, what I know is Europe. But what you said originated thousands of years ago...does that have anything to do with Europe? There is no clear historical record, right?" He: "No, but the point of the question is not to ask for an explanation." I smiled: "You really want to practice, don't you?" He didn't answer me directly: "You should know why you did this, right?" Me: "Well, I have the impression that it seems that the religious groups at that time noticed that the human skull was not closed when they were babies, and there was a big gap, which is commonly known as the 'xin (xin) door'; During the fetal period in the womb, the brain will not develop too much, which is for the smoothness of birth, so as not to cause dystocia. After birth until before closing, the brain is in a state of rapid development. After about one or two years old, That gap gradually closed and calcified, becoming the skull that protects the brain. There will always be traces of closure in the middle of the skull on the top of an adult’s head.”

He: "That's right, that's it." Me: "After the gap in the skull is closed, the brain cavity becomes closed, and the brain volume no longer increases. Because of intracranial pressure, the blood will no longer flow to the brain as much as before. Some religious organizations have noticed this aftermath. , Imagine whether it is possible to artificially open holes in the skull, reduce intracranial pressure, and allow the blood to flow to the brain as much as it did in infancy, in an attempt to artificially cause the second growth of the brain. The result is this operation.”

He: "Well, Trepanation, that is, skull piercing." Me: "Do you believe that?" He: "Why don't you believe me?" I was a little surprised: "I remember that the cortex and meninges of the adult brain do not allow the brain to grow any further? And the cranial cavity is only that big..." He smiled confidently: "That's right, the bones of adults have been calcified, and the cranial cavity is only that big. Even after perforation, the volume of the brain is unlikely to increase. However, the intracranial pressure is reduced, and the brain still gets more blood and more blood than before. Lots of nutrients."

I think what he said is right, but I disagree: "Does that have a direct impact on intelligence improvement? There is currently insufficient scientific evidence for this?" He: "The records known so far cannot be explained by the scientific and medical circles." Me: "Have you... seen it?" He's right." I have a feeling: he was brainwashed by a cult, or fooled by some demigod who drank too much. Me: "What cult person have you come into contact with recently? People all over the country know that gong is nonsense." He burst out laughing. "I've been working on this myself for four years. You have a good sense of humor."

I told him seriously: "That's very dangerous. If I remember correctly, many people in Europe died of infection after surgery. And the cerebrospinal fluid in the cranial cavity is to protect the brain. You may get an infection after an easy craniotomy. Or brain damage, that's really dangerous." He also looked at me seriously: "Modern medicine is incomparable to the rough surgery in the past, and I don't plan to make it too big. I just need to make a hole in the skull. It's very small, about the diameter of a finger, and then I can do it again." Cover it with skin on the outside and sew it in. I just want pressure off the cranium."

Me: "What next? What do you want? To be honest, I think you are already very smart, really." He had another penetrating laugh: "You're really humorous, that's not what I want." Me: "Then what do you want?" He: "A considerable part of the data I have records such a situation: About one-third of the people who have undergone Trepanation, that is, more than 30%, have supernatural powers shortly after the operation." I looked at him suspiciously: "You mean..." He: "Some people can see ghosts and undead, some people can predict the future, some people are inspired by something, some people get the ability to take things out of thin air, and some people get extraordinary wisdom, and even the current Go to the records of the Pope." Excitement leaked from his calm eyes.

Me: "This is unreliable. Many records in Europe are made up for religious rule. I don't believe that vampires and humans fought for several years. You'd better not believe it either." He ignored my questioning: "Has anyone you know tried it?" Me: "No, it's not that crazy." He looked at me with a smile: "There will be." I don't know how to persuade him, and I can't talk to him. Since he has been studying for several years, he must know more about this than me.And I don't have any favorable evidence to refute. I can only be in a state of repeated emphasis but no way to explain it. To be honest, I am very helpless.

Me: "Why are you telling me this? Why are you coming to me?" He: "I don't know how I will react after doing Trepanation. If so, I invite you to participate in the research. Not only you, but brain doctors, neurologists, European historians, and even folklorists I have talked about it all, they will be my backup, and once I have supernatural powers after the operation, you can all participate in it more deeply, and treat me as a test subject. At the same time, I will pay you money." To be honest, I think he should take a good look at his illness, really. Me: "I may not be able to help you at that time, you'd better not do it, what if you are the two-thirds? Wouldn't the piercing be in vain?" He: "Then think I'm dedicating myself to science?" After speaking, there was another burst of laughter. I tried my best to persuade him, but he insisted on doing it, but I couldn't help it. It seems that he has made up his mind. Later, I also looked for some relevant materials, but there were very few translations, all of which were in foreign languages.I took a part of it and got someone to translate it and read it. I thought it was a bit out of line, and it was not done by orthodox religions. It seemed that European cults did this.And he doesn't seem to be the kind of person who has a miserable life, is seriously dissatisfied with the society, whose wife ran away with others, and who was squeezed out by colleagues at work. I don't understand why a person is so hard on himself.I think he might be idle. About a month later, he sent me a text: surgery this afternoon, wish me luck!