An operation that removes a circular section of bone from the skull.
Fortunately, trephination is not something I’ve had performed on me, nor do I have any reason to expect this procedure in or on my future skull.
The idea of trephination reminds me of a time I threw up at an eye doctor’s office.
In the waiting room I found a copy of a science magazine — something like Nova or Discover or a similar title.
I think I was about 11 years old that day when I opened that magazine to a full-page photo showing brain surgery being performed on a human. A square opening had been sawed through the skull, exposing the brain inside the head, as the brain surgeons prepared their instruments for slicing into the brain matter. The piece of skull lay in a nearby metal tray. Underneath this photo was a quote from the oddly enthusiastic brain surgeon, who said something like "Going into the brain is like going to the moon!"
This image of the open skull would have little effect on me today, but at that age I was prone to sudden fits of vomiting. My stomach was sensitive, and this image sent me straight to the nearest bathroom. I remember in particular that the image of the wet brain itself, as gross as it was, is not what made me want to throw up. The idea of the saw grinding into the skull put me over the edge.
I remember not telling anybody about this. I also remember being glad this was a visit to the eye doctor and not the dentist, since a dentist would have had questions about any post-barf smell or residue in my mouth.