The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-07
READY FOR. CARRYING
Brooklyn Doctor Offers Himself Upon
the Altar of Science
TO TEST VALUE OF v1vIsEcTIoN
frinc1pnl Stipulation Is That His
hamily he Provided For In
Case of His Death.

New York, Feb. 7.-Dr. James Edwin
russell of Brooklyn has offered to sub
nit his body for an indeterminate series
or experiments under the surgeons knife,
TO be continued until his death or physi-
cal collapse. He stipulates that his wife
and family must be amply provideds for
before he submits himself to the knife.
Dr.. Russell is A years old and has prac-
tlced more than twelve years in his neigh
borhood. He says he is an excellent sub
1ect, as he is in the prime of life in good
health and without an ounce of super
Huous flesh. He is willing, he says, TO
make this voluntary sacrifice in the in
terest of science. He said:
II a man makes this sacrifice from a sud
den and generous impulse he is called a hero
II he does 1t deliberately, with full knowl-
edge OF the dangers, he is too often called
a lunatic or a fanatic. I know full well that
shall be called lunatic by many and
charlatan by others, but these does not deter
me from my intention. My plea is for human
Vivisection, and l am fully aware that in
making such a plea l am shocking the SEN
slbltltles OF many and am likely to incur the
condemnation and active hostility of many
more. But nsither am 1 greatly concerned
about that, tamilafi 1 am with the fact
that any new departure radical measures
are beset with the most violent opposition. 81
often think that the cause Of vvisection has
suffered most at the hands of it's friends
and advocates. r r. '-.' H.
VIII Help His Carvers.
I offer myself subject for vivisection
in any direction or alonb any lines that may
be selected. l Will myself, when able and
competent, assist my vivisectors by such notes
as may be Of interest to them and to me, the
experiments to continue until / am exhausted
or until 1 succumb But should survive at
the end Of year of observation and expeir-
ant 7 Stiy,
released from further service.
AS in thus volunteering in my own person
to undergo vivisection and as I realize that
the chances are all against my surviving, I
further stipulate solely on behalf OF those
who are dependent upon me and who would
otherwise suffer by my voluntary sacrifice,
that prior to my entering upon this course,
ample provision be made for their comfort
and protection-the more so as all existing
emoluments such as benefits insurance, etc,
will have to be forfeited and cancelled. am
thus careful TO particularize that you may
see that l have full appreciation Of the
magnitude Of the offer make, that the same
is made in no vainglorious or bravado spirit,
but IS submitted in good feath and an earnest
purpose and conscientious conviction that
man Is no less worthy of commentator be-
cause he proposes to offer himself sacrifice
to the science he loves than is the general
or the admiral who leads armies and navies
haps without the thought of fear of either,
although in the present the outcome is
nearly certain to be death.
This proposition has ''strings'' to it. It
remains open until accepted and the terms
will be. rigidly adhered to by me- What
want to accomplish by it as we'll, however,
is to stop, if can, this anti-vivisecton rant
which is misleading and wholly false, always
unjust, and influences unreasonably the pre-
JUDGES Of people always timid as to ply
steal suffering.
Most Vital Organs Last.
He said he would consent to a series
of operations on the stomach, then on the
liver, the spleen, the glands of the
throat, the kidneys, the heart and the
brain. The doctor said:
l shall place no restrictions upon any
operation whatever. I would merely suggest
that the experiments be SO arranged that
those organs which have the most immedi-
ate result upon the maintenance Of life be ra-
served to the last. This suggestion is not
actuated by any fear of death, but rather by
the desire that the usefulness OF my body may
be prolonged.
The doctors wife says she will have
him restrained in some way; will appeal
to the authorities. Dr.. Russell was grad
uated from the Homeopathic Medical col
lege in this city in 1880. He is a men,
Der in good standing of the Homeopathic
Medical society Of Brooklyn and has
good practice. He is quiet and modest,
according to his professional friends. He
has been married twenty years and has
two children, boy of II and a girl of
II years. His proposition originally was
in the form of letter to the Brooklyn
Eagle in answer to an antivivisection1st
who had written to the paper.