Phineas Gage: "Horrible Accident" in Vermont

by John Fleischman
This work of scientific nonfiction tells the story of Phineas Gage, a railroad construction foreman from Vermont who, in 1848, suffered an injury that revolutionized neuroscience.

Here are links to our lists for the book: "Horrible Accident" in Vermont, What We Thought About How We Thought, Following Phineas Gage, Putting Phineas Together Again
15 words 23 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. foreman
    a person who exercises control over workers
    Phineas is the foreman of a track construction gang that is in the process of blasting a railroad right-of-way through granite bedrock near the small town of Cavendish, Vermont.
  2. confer
    have a meeting in order to talk something over
    The two doctors confer, but Dr. Harlow takes over the case.
  3. delirious
    experiencing hallucinations
    He develops a fever and begins to have delirious spells.
  4. monastery
    the residence of a religious community
    They reminded him of the bare rooms used by monks in a monastery.
  5. clamor
    make loud demands
    London society clamored to see more microscope images of things too fine for the human eye.
  6. array
    an impressive display or assortment
    The body's immune system tries to kill the invading bacteria with an array of special immune cells, while the bacteria try to protect themselves against immune cells by cranking out toxic chemicals.
  7. infection
    the invasion of the body by pathogenic microorganisms
    Eventually, Pasteur will unravel the three great biological mysteries of his time—fermentation, decay, and infection.
  8. inflammation
    painful swelling of body tissues due to injury or irritation
    Harlow follows the best medical advice of his time—keep the wound clean but covered and watch for inflammation.
  9. abate
    become less in amount or intensity
    The fever abates.
  10. evacuate
    empty completely
    Harlow prescribes two powerful drugs—an "emetic" to make Phineas throw up and a "purgative," a powerful laxative, to evacuate his bowels.
  11. opportunistic
    taking advantage of any circumstance of possible benefit
    Staphylococci bacteria are the other half of the deadly duo of opportunistic bacteria.
  12. intact
    undamaged in any way
    His left eye looks intact, but the vision has gradually faded away.
  13. vulgar
    conspicuously and tastelessly indecent
    He spouts vulgar language in the presence of women.
  14. confidential
    given in secret
    Harlow, who is keeping confidential notes on Phineas, sadly writes, "His contractors, who regarded him as the most efficient and capable foreman in their employ previous to his injury, considered the change in his mind so marked that they could not give him his place again."
  15. deference
    courteous regard for people's feelings
    Harlow writes: "He is fitful, irreverent, indulging at times in the grossest profanity (which was not previously his custom), manifesting but little deference for his fellows, impatient of restraint or advice when it conflicts with his desires."
Created on Wed Apr 08 08:21:12 EDT 2026 (updated Fri Apr 10 16:42:37 EDT 2026)

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