A boy with deep scars on his forehead as a result of surgery, in an attempt to cure epilepsy and headaches, Bismarck Archipelago (Papua New Guinea). Halftone.

1 process print : halftone ; image 10.3 x 9.5 cm

Select images of this work were taken by the Wellcome Historical Medical Museum: WT/D/1/20/1/43/12

Primitive surgery. ... Lettering continues: "New Britain (Bismarck Archipelago) boy with deeply scarred forehead. If a child from two to five years old has epilepsy or long-continued headache they lay bare its forehead bone, scrape grooves in it with shell, and then replace the flesh. It is thought that this will secure the child from epilepsy and headache for life."

Wellcome Collection 21405i