The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1875-03-04


An Inssrsstins Expsrimsns on Two Dogs,
BuGAlo Courier. Feb. ssh-
s&* : So much In an explanatory
way; and now we proceed to speak of
an interesting experiment involving
the TRANSMISSION of blood which was
made at the Buffalo Medical College
yesterday afternoon at haIf-past two
o'clock, in presence of the students of
the College. The operator was VIM.
III. Mason, NJ. D., Professor of Physi-
olcgy, who Prefaced his experiment
with brief but interesting lecture on
the TRANSMISSION of blood. The sub
jects upon which the operation was
performed were two dogs, one a good
sized mongrel and the other smaller
animal having something of the coach
dog in his composition. The Profess
or was assisted by some of the mem
bers of the class, Mr.. Charles Carey
having charge of the larger animal.
The larger dog was first laid upon the
table, and, after being put under the
influence of ether, the Professor pro-
ceeded to expose ths carotid artery.
The apparatus throug which the trans
fusion was to..bs effected was then pro-
duced. This consisted of a simple In
dia-rubber tube al ut seven inches in
length and having st each end brass
nozzle with stop-cock. This tube
was filed with saturated solution of
bicarbeuate of soda, for the purpose of
preventing the coagulation Of the first
blood passing through. and OF also
preventing the ingress Of sir into the
tube. One end of the pipe was intro
duced into the artery. and the animal
was laid aside, all the while uncons-
cious OF what was going on. The
second dog then received attention,
was promptly anesthetized, and very
soon thereafter Professor Mason had
laid bare the jugular vein. The other
end Of the tube was inserted into the
artery, and thss perfect tubular COM
nection established between the blood
vessels of the two animals. The stop
cocks remained untouched, aud, the
time for the more importa I use of the
tube had not yet come. > If the small
dog must have blood from his larger
and equally unconscious neighbor,
there must bo reason for it, and this
was soon supplied. LIN the second dog
an artery was opened, and his lie
blood was permitted to ebb rapidly
away. 1t continued to flow till respi-
ration ceased, and he was to all intents
and purposes a dead dog. When the
lungs had ceased to act, the flow Of
blood was instantly stopped, the stop
cock attached to the tubes that con-
nected the animals were opened, and
the blood was allowsdto flow from
the larger dog into the smaller one
which had been exhausted by the
hemorrhage. simultaneously with
this artificial respiration was induced
by intermittent compression OF the
thoracic walls, and this was continued
for period of three minutes, az the
end of which time the animal himself
breathed and was practically restored
to life. a few minutes more aud the
flow of blood was stopped and the
TRANSMISSION was complete. The tube
was removed, the ligatures wore deity
placed around the blood vessels which
had been severed. and, as the narcotic
effects of the ether passed off and the
stimulating properties asserted them
selves, there were two Intoxicated ca
mines, nothing the worse for the. ex-
pertinent, 10 testify to the comparative
harmlessness of the experiment and
the skill of the operator. Both ami
mails were doing well at last accounts,
and the Professor concluded his illus
tration by instructing the students thai
before trying the experiment on hu-
man beings they should repeat 1t two
or three times on animals.