Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1885-04-08
A STUNNING WESTERN STORY.



From the Denver News
Mr.. James L. Finch gives an account of
some curious experiments which he and Dr.
Armitage recently made secretly at Denver,
Col, in resuscitating animals apparently
dead
The first subject operated upon was me-
dium-sized terrier dog. 1t was securely tied
and an incision made in an artery in his
neck, by which the animal was bled to death.
He certainly passed through all the symp-
toms of dying, and soon after the last blood
issued from the wound his frame became
fixed and rigid and his eyes showed the
senseless glare of death. The room was
kept at temperature of seventy degrees
Fahrenheit, while the dog lay for thEee hours
dead By this time he had become very still
and cold He was now placed in warm
water bath that was constantly maintained
at temperature of one hundred and five de-
grees, and was continually and thoroughly
rubbed, and as he became plant his limbs
were gently worked about and his whole
body rendered supple. A half pint of hot
water was now passed into his stomach
through hard rubber tube that was forced
down his esophagus. When this was ac-
complished the mouth of a rubber tube, at
tached to bellows, was introduced into his
windpipe, and as the bellows were provided
with double valve, by which the air could
be withdrawn as well as inhaled, the dogs
nose was securely fastened.
A large and powerful Newfoundland dog
that had been obtained for the purpose had
been tied near by and was now bled, while
the attending surgeon proceeded to adjust
the transfusing apparatus and began to slow
ly inject the live dogs blood into the dead
dog simultaneously Mr.. Armitage began
slowly working the respiratory bellows,
while kept rubbing the animal and bending
his limbs and body to facilitate circulation
We could not have been more anxious about
the issue of our efforts if they had been
made on human being instead of dumb
brute When pint of fresh blood had been
injected could see some change about the
eyes of the dog. But no one spoke. One
thought was common to all-would life come
back? In a few moments more there was
certainly convulsive tremor noticeable in
the body. Mr.. Armitage, in undisgllised ex-
citement, said to the surgeon: "Press the
blood" In minute or two the dog gasps,
and soon attempts to eject the respiratory
tube, which was accordingly withdrawn.
This was followed by gasps and catching of
the breath, while the eyes grew brighter and
more natural. The rubbing and blood in
jecting were yet applied, and the dog was
struggling as if in fit. But his efforts soon
become less violent and he begins a low
whine. A compress was now placed on the
artery, and in twenty-five minutes after the
first blood was injected he sits up, after be-
ing dead three hours and twenty minutes.
The dog then drank broth that had been pre-
pared for him in case of his revival and soon
got up and walked about He was furnished
a comfortable bed near the stove, and from
this time forward his recovery was 90 rapid
that in two days he was turned out to run in
the streets. He is now rugged character in
good health, with seemingly no bad remem-
brance of his resurrection.
The second case was a calf six weeks old.
The details of treatment were similar to the
foregoing, except for greater convenience a
hot vapor bath was substituted for the warm
water immersion. The calf, after being bled
to death, was left for twelve hours before its
resuscitation was undertaken, as it was de-
sirable to see if a longer death interval could
be successfully passed over. The fresh blood
injected into it's circulating system was taken
from yearling steer. It required thirty five
minutes to restore the calf to life after the
TRANSMISSION of the first blood. The calf then
drank some warm milk, and has since grown
and thriven without pereeptible interruption
or ailment.
The next experiment was of different
character, and was made with view to see
if a drowned animal could be restored to
life. A small dog was forced under water
and drowned. He was then taken out and
laid with his head inclined downward to
drain his lungs of water, and left for four
hours in warm room. 1t will be noticed
that this was quite different and more
hopeless case than the preceding, as the dog
had all it's own blood yet in his veins At
ter an hour i'll the warm bath, and constant
rubbing and working, his veins were opened
at three different points to admit the escape
of any blood that might issue from them,
and the injecting apparatus was vigorously
applied to the arterial system. After fifty
minutes of anxious labor signs of revivifca
ton were observable. The poor beast whined
piteously as life was once more enthroned
within him. Notwithstanding great care was
taken of him, he remained weak for several
days, but seems now to be in good condition.
A fourth case was recently tried, in which
the subject was dog that was strangled and
afterward frozen-as he could not be frozen
without strangling-and it was unsuccessful.
After four hours of labor signs of return
ing life were noticeable. 1t is believed, how
ever, that this experiment may yet succeed,
and the life of a frozen animal be restored.
1t is proper to add that, in the first cases,
after the blood ceased to flow from the
wound, measures were taken to prevent air
from entering the circulatory system as the
animal cooled, and in all the cases the res
piratory apparatus was nicely adjusted to
the capacity of the animal If the lungs in
any case had been ruptured or overstrained,
would have subsequently en-
sued.