Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1875-07-23
A Remarkable Experiment.

The theory of Huxley that the entire
substance of the body changes in less than
seven years, probably in two or three, is
apparently finding confirmation bv the
experiment Of two leading physicians of
Lyons, France, Rivordin and Venillot.
Both have been warm personal friends for
years, and have been devoted to scientific
medical experiments and research, so
much so that each felt his power of use
fulness gone without the aid of the other.
For some time past the TRANSMISSION of
blood has been a subject of study and OBJ
servatiOn with them, and they became so
desirOus of gaining all possible knowledge
| thereof that they devoted themselves to il
with all the enthusiasm of science. They
also inoculated themselves with the virus
of disease, studied their workings, and
experimental upon the remedies condu-
Give to their cure. Rivordin was small,
thin, nervous man, and Venillot is large,
rather portly and robust. For several
years the former has been in delicate
health, although not afflicted with any
organic disease, 50 far as was percepti-
Bile. Within the last six months, howev-
er, he manifested symptoms of rapid fail
ure, and ii was believed that his days were
numbered.
His friend and professional colleague,
Venillot was strongly affected by the evi-
dent approach of the grim enemy death,
who threatened so soon to rob him of his
counselor and companion. Aside from
the strong affection which had grown up
between them, he felt that, alone, his med
ical studies and experiments would be at
an end, since, without his friends mag
netic influence, assistance and encourage
ment, his powers would be rendered abor-
tive. In view, therefore, of the rapidly ap
preaching death of Rivordin, the two
friends agreed to test the efficacy of trans
fusion of blood from the veins of the
healthy and robust man into those of the
weak and apparently dying one Their
first experiments were discOuraging. but,
nothing daunted they continued them,
with alterations of seeming success and
defeat.
Recently perfect success has crowned
their efforts, and DIR. Venllot announces
his belief in the theory that all the materi-
al of the body comes through the blood, as
serting that after repeatedly successful
transfusions the substance of Rivordin has
become like that of himself, and that Ri
yOrdin seems to be the subject of a mental
delusion, which powerfully impresses
him with the belief that he is Venillot.
The case of Rivordin naturally excites
great interest among the medical pro-
tessOrs of Lyons, some of whom ex-
press doubts as to whether il is or is
not delusion. To all exterior appear
ances Rivordin has become throughout
his whole physical nature what his friend
was and yet is. He is said to remember
things which never happened to him and
which did happen to DR.. VenillOt, while
the memory of his own past life is partial
ly obscured, and seems like dim, half.
forgotten dream. This case is deemed
one OF the most remarkable on record,
and will lead TO series of interesting in.
yestigations regarding the results which
follow the TRANSMISSION of blood and its
effects in producing an entire change in
the human system. Should the doctrine,
after further experiments, be proven that
all the material of the body comes
through the blood, it will be "a hazardous
experiment TO transfer the blood of ant
mails into the human system, and death
would indeed be preferable to life pro-
longed through assuming the blood, and
with II the nature, of sheep, an OK,
pig, etc, etc. The most puzzling enigma
connected with the subject is, how the
soul the seat of thought, the reason or by
whatever name we may call the highest
governing attribute of humanity, is thus
affected by the blood, which, if its power
be as great as is apparent, rules the soul
even more than the body.-TOIedo Blade.
-
The experiment made by M, Proust,
revealing the fact that fatty matters can be
extracted from cast-iron when the latter is
dissolved in certain acids, has lately been
tested by M. Clock. On separating these
materials in pure state their analysis re-
vealed the interesting fact that they con
sist of carburets of hydrogen of certain
series, and presenting the various terms
thereof. This, il is stated, is veritable
organic synthesis, realized by the aid of