Plot

Alvarito, an apparently normal boy with a perfectly sane brain, suffers nonetheless a mysterious chronic stupidity that eludes the limits of modern medicine. Florentina, his dedicated mother, after years of infructuous search for the causes of her son's disorder, decides to pawn her last properties and resort to the consultation clinic of Dr. Natalio, a barber-surgeon of infamous reputation to whom are attributed as many miraculous healings as obscure negligences. Dr. Natalio, widely schooled in quackery and medieval surgery, doesn't have a doubt about his diagnosis: Alvarito suffers the disease of the "stone of madness", a pebble that presses the brain, impeding correct reasoning to the patient. According to his theory, an uncomplicated operation, as old as the world itself, will be enough to remove the stone and change Alvarito over a perfectly lucid young man...—DwightFry

ALVARITO, a common boy with a perfectly sane brain, suffers a strange chronic stupidity that escapes from modern medicine's limits. FLORENTINA, his poor mother, after years of useless research of a cure, decides to sell their last personal belongings and ask Dr. Natalio (a surgeon-barber with a very bad reputation) for help. Dr. Natalio, hugely well-educated in quackery and medieval surgery, has no doubt about the diagnostic: Alvarito suffers "madness stone" sickness, a stone that pushes the brain and makes the patient act like a stupid. In order to Dr. Natalio, a simple surgery as old as the worlds is will be enough for extract the stone and cure Alvarito, who will become a normal and clever boy.—Javi Camino