The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1891-02-26
VIvISECTION.
An Object Lesson on the Movements o,
tho Heart.

the Heart.
Vivisection is allowed under certain
restrictions in New York State says the
New York Herald, and that paper gives
the following account of DR.. John Green
Curtis operation on calf to show his
class the physiology of the hearts ac-
ton:
DIR. Curtis was covered from neck to
knee by gown for protection from
blood stains, and as he waved his hand
to the janitor and his young assistants
he looked not unlike some ancient high
priest awaiting the victim of a sacrifice.
The calf had already been strapped to
q frame that conformed closely to the
shape of his body. This was mounted
on wheels to facilitate its easy move
ment in various directions. The ether
was given while the doctor talked, and
he was frequently interrupted by a
plaintive ''bah!' or a deep sigh from his
victim. He first performed tracheotomy
and then resorted to artificial respira-
ton, which was done by applying
piece of rubber hose from a stationary
pair of bellows to the tracheotomy
tube inserted into the animals wind
pipe, and thus pumping in air, the
ether sponge being applied to the valve
of the bellows, etherizing all the air
forced into the animals lungs.
A triangular section of the ribs and
cartilages and breast-bone was cut
away and the parts directly beneath
dissected from it carefully. Beneath
was revealed the Serious sac containing
the heart and tho roots Of the great
arteries. This is known as the peri
cardium. The professor deity slit
this open from bottom to top with
pair of scissors, and on open
ing it the heart, with its append
heart as it beat, sending the fluid Of life
through the system, was thus shown, its
right side being rather darker chan the
left from the venous character of the
blood passing within, while the brill
iantly colored arterial blood gave the
left side its higher color.
"Observc," said the professor, THAT
the same action is taking place in both
sides of the heart at tho same tiEle; the
two ventricles contract and expand at
the same moment and the long axis OF
the organ shorters in aystolos and
lengthens slightly in diastolos. In sys
toles its circular iibers slightly twist it,
while in diastolc it untwi e again.
'sThe circulation of tho blood is best
shown by tho puncturo Of Harvey. This
is to push q trocar into the vcntlicles
which, il blood is passing into it, vii
squirt it out jet after jet in the air " Aft
err giving the class good chance t.
study the hearts movement beat thu
professor plunged q hollow needle o.
trocar, about one eighth Of IN inch il
diameter, into the left vcntriclc, and ie
after jet came jumping out, driven b,
the pump-like action of the organ. thu
showing that blood was being constant
ly forced onward or kept in circulation
by the contraction of the organ.
To complete the viviscction and to b
sure that the animal should not suifo
any pain tho professor and his assistant
now opened the back Of the animal
neck and severed tho medulla oblongat
as high as the base Of the skull. Tn
heart ceased beating-thc victim wa
dead. The animal had lived over 4
hour with its heart exposed, and so pc
feet was the vivisector's skill that Il
hearts action did not even seem to woa
en- in all that zine, nor was there Il
slightest sign Of pain.