Driven by the desire for a permanent high, one audacious individual embarked on a harrowing journey of self-experimentation, attempting to drill a hole in their own skull not once, but three times.
Born in Britain, Joseph Mellen gained notoriety for his book “Bore Hole,” which recounts his three attempts to drill a hole into his skull in pursuit of a permanent high. Mellen, a prominent figure in the Swinging Sixties acid revolution, first published his book in 1970. Unsurprisingly, the bizarre tale has since gone viral time and time again.
In an extraordinary tale of self-experimentation, Mellen performed trepanation on himself three times, seeking a continuous acid trip. Trepanation, an ancient practice of drilling holes in one’s skull, is considered one of the world’s oldest surgical procedures. While trepanned skulls have been discovered on every continent and some African tribes still perform the procedure today, Joe Mellen’s story stands out for his unique motivation.
Mellen’s interest in trepanation began in 1965 after a conversation with Bart Huges, a fellow acid enthusiast who had also attempted the procedure on himself. Although initially skeptical, Mellen warmed to the idea as he learned more about its potential to enhance his acid trips.
In a 2016 VICE interview, Mellen explained the theory behind the practice, noting that humans desire the return to a more spontaneous, creative state experienced before the skull fuses in early adulthood.
Undeterred by his lack of funds, Mellen embarked on his first self-trepanation attempt in 1967, using a hand trepan purchased from a surgical instrument shop. The experience was far from pleasant, and Mellen likened it to uncorking a wine bottle from the inside. Despite the agonizing failure, Mellen remained convinced that increasing blood flow to the brain was the key to permanent highs.
About a year later, Mellen tried trepanation again. Although more successful than his initial attempt, he felt the procedure was not yet perfect. Recounting the experience, Mellen described the unsettling sounds he heard during the process and expressed dissatisfaction with the amount of skull removed.
In 1970, after a 15-year journey, Mellen finally succeeded on his third self-trepanation attempt. Describing the aftermath, he recalled feeling lighter, as if a weight had been lifted off him. Mellen went to bed that evening with the sensation still present and awoke the next morning realizing he had accomplished his goal.
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Sources: Odditycentral