Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1902-12-10
DR.. ". A. KEEN'S OPINION
YOUNG AlkEN's LIFE SAVED BY
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE.
Game-BIood CIot Located in the
Arm-Argument Directed Against
Pet Fad of Senator Gallinger, a
Prominent Anti-vivisectionist.

Philadelphia.-Dr. William A. Keen,
the eminent surgeon of this city, who
was recently summoned to Annapolis
to perform an operation on Midship-
man Aiken to relieve him of the effects
of injuries sustained in a football
game, attributes the success of his
operation to knowledge gained through
experiments in vivisection. DR.. Keen
has written letter setting forth the
facts in the case to Senator Gallnger,
whom he regards as one of the leaders
OF the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. in this coun-
try. Dr.. Keen in his letter says:
Il deem it my duty to call your at
| tention to the case of Midshipman
Aiken of the United States naval acad-
envy, who was recently injured in a
football game. My reason for doing
so is to show you by single concrete
example that knowledge gained by
animal experimentation is an immense
boon to humanity, and that, therefore,
such experiments should be heartily
encouraged. The facts of Mr.. Aiken's
case are as follows:
|
after the accident, found that he had
been unconscious for a half hour after
the accident and ever since then had
complained bitterly of headache,
which he located always in the fore
head. Soon after the accident he be-
gan to develop commissions. In six
hours and half after | saw him he
had "a of these attacks, all limited
to the right arm.
| There was no fracture of the skull.
The only physical evidence of any in
jury was a very slight bruise at the
outer end of the left eyebrow.
Had l seen this case before 1885
I would have been unable to- explain
why the spasms were chiefly mani
tested in the right arm. would have
been justified in inferring that prob
ably the front part of his brain was
| injured at the place of the bruise.
Had | opened his skull at that point |
would have found perfectly normal
brain and have missed the clot. The
young man, therefore, would have
died, whether his skull had been
opened or not.
I'm 1902, observe the difference. AS
a result of knowledge derived from
experiments upon animals which have
located precisely the center for mo-
ton of the right arm, reached the
conclusion that there had been a rup-
ture of blood vessel within the head
and that the situation of the clots
correspondent to the arm CENTER It's
position was fixed absolutely as a re-
suit of experiments upon animals.
| "As soon as the skull was opened
at this point the clot was found, it's
thickest point being exactly over the
arm center, and the blood was re-
moved, with the result that the pa
TENTS life was saved. This is only
one of hundreds of cases in which a
similar exact location has been made
by many surgeons, both in Europe and
| America.
"The NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. have fire.
quently declared that surgeons have
learned nothing from such expert
ments. l state with the greatest posi-
| tiveness that without the knowledge
| derived from experiment on animals,
| should never have been able to To-
cate the clot in Mr.. Aiken's head and
| remove it.
"In view, therefore, of the evident
and possible benefit of mankind,
| trust that you will be willing to desist
from further efforts as such repressive
and, as 1 regard it, most inhumane
and cruel legislation"