Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-02-20
THE GAZETTE.
SATURDAY EvE'NG., FEBRUARY 20.
TRANSMISSION OF BLOOD.

i1G1A OoloN VI bhOoD.
A Buffalo paper of recent date, after Civ.
ing az explanation of the new science of trans
fusion. proceeds to speak Of an interesting ex-
pertinent, involving the TRANSMISSION OF blood
which was made at the Buffalo Medical Col
lege recently. In the presence OF the students
of the College The operator was William II.
Mason. M. D., Profe ssor of Physiology, who
prefaced his experiment with brief but inter.
estinc lecture on the TRANSMISSION of blood. The
subjects upon which the operation was per.
formed we're two dogs, ope good sized mon
gre and the other smaller animal having
something of the coach-dog in his composition.
The Professor was assisted by some OF the
members of the class, Mr.. Charles Carey hav-
ing charge of the larger animal. The larger
dog was first laid upon the table, and after be.
ing put under the Influence of ether, the Pro-
lessor proceed to expose the carotid artery.
The apparatus through which the TRANSMISSION
was to be effected was then produced. This
consisted of simple India rubber tube about
seven INCHES 10 length and having at each end
a brass nozzle with stop-cock. This tube was
filled with saturated solution OF bicarbonate
of soda for the purpose of preventing the CO.
aguation of the first blood passing through,
and also preventing the ingress OF air into the
tube. One end of the pipe was introduced
into the artery and the animal was laid aside,
all the while unconscious of what was going on.
The second dog then received attention, was
promptly ames:heized, ADD very soon there.
after Prof. Mason had laid bare the iugular
vein. The other end of the tube was inserted
into the artery. and thus perfect tubular con-
nection established between the blood vessels
Of the two animals
The stop-cocks remained untouched, as the
time for the more important use OF the tube
had not yet come. IT the small dog must have
blood from his larger and equally unconscious
neighbor, there must be reason tor 1t, and
this was soon supplied: lu the second dog an
artery was opened, and his fe-blood was per.
mitted to ebb rapidly away. It continued TO
flow till respiration ceased, aud he was to all
intents and purposes dead dog. When the
lungs bad ceased to act, the flow OF blood was
instantly stopped, the stop-eocks attached to
the tubes that connected the animals were
opened, aud the blood was allowed to flow
from the larger dog into the smaller one which
had been exhausted by the hemorrhage. Sim
ultaneousy with this artificial respiration was
induced by intermittent compression OF the
thoracic walls, and this was continued tor pc
Rod of three minutes, at the end OF which
time the animal himself breathed and was
practically restored to life. A few minutes
more and the flow of blood was stopped and
the TRANSMISSION was complete. The tube was
removed, the ligatures were deity placed
around the blood vessels which had been sew
cred, and as the oarcotic effects Of the other
passed off and the stimulating properties as:
serted themselves, there we're two intoxicated
CANNES, nothing the worse for the experiment.
to testify to the comparative harmlessness OF
the experiment and the skill of the operator.
Both animals were doing we'll at last accounts,
and the Professor concluded bis illustration by
instructing the students that before trying the
experiment upon human beings they should
repeat it two or three times on animals.