Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-05
OUR MANY USELESS ORGANS.
The Stomach, the Pancreas and Spleen
May Be Removed With Impunity.

Translation in Public opinion.
Just how many of the vital organs of a
man are necessary to his continued exist
ence is an interesting problem, but it seems
that the development of modern surgery
has enabled a man to dispense with part
of almost every organ. and still live. A re-
cent article by DIR. Mauclair in the Revue
Scientifque of Paris, covers this point very
thoroughly. DIR. Mauciair says that for a
long time surgeons have practiced the ex-
tirpation OF the kidney when such has suf-
fered traumatIc rupture, the other kidney
doing the work of two. Also enunciation of
the eye Is old in medicine. But since the
days of Pasteur total and partial extirpa-
tion have become frequent in surgery, while
hemostauc methods or those relating to
the stopping Of blood. have been remark
ably developed"
Among other organs which can be extr-
pated are the Serious membranes, which
may be removed without the least danger
and In many cases the membranes are re-
formed. The muscles and their tendons
may also be removed entirely. and in the
throat the large and small pectoral muscles
may be removed without TO any great ex-
tent affecting the use of the arms. In this
case other and neighboring muscles supply
the places of those taken away. In the os-
seOus system there are many bones which
may be removed without causing great in
convenience. Thus, the shoulder blade and
one or more ribs have been removed with
out any change worth mentioning, and at
times a scolIosis Of compensation is OBJ
served. In the case of removal, partial or
total, of the bones of the face rubber ana
steel supports may be introduced in place
OF the bones, while removal of the ankle
bone does not have any material effect on
the equilibrium of the foot.
In reference to the digestive system and
annexed glands the author groups these
into organs which only serve to conduct a
liquid or as reservoirs and secretory organs
The organs of the first class may be en-
tirely removed without difficulty. These
organs are many. but the most important
are the appendix. pharynx esophagus in
its cervical portion, caecum, colons, rectum
and so forth. The extirpation OF the cae-
cum and the ascending colon has become
common. although that of the transverse
colon is exceptional The eXtirpation of the
rectum. however, Is current. The secretory
organs are the stomach and the small in
tesune. The first total extirpatIon of the
stomach was made by Schatter of Zurich
in 1897 Czerney in 1878 and Carvalho and
Pachon in 1894 had succeeded in perform
Ing this operation on animals. In 1903 Jules
Beokel reported tbirty-eght cases OF total
removal OF the stomach. When the stom-
ach Is taken out the digestive work is
formed by the small intestine. Large por-
tons OF this small intestine. which Is eigh-
teen feet in length have been removed. and
in animals there Is compensating hyper
trophy of the intestine still remaining. In
animals as much as the half of the intestine
has been removed, and in man as much as
eleven and three quarters feet. When, how
ever II is not possible to remove the dis
eased organ It is excluded by uniting the
healthy portions with other organs In this
way Vanverts has succeeded in excluding
the greater portion of this small intestine.
The liver has I'D to this time been re-
spected because OF its extreme vascularity,
and so far only fragments have been re-
moved. The physiological role of this Or
gan is also enormous. and cases of substi-
tuition have as yet not been observed. Still,
when portion of the liver is removed the
remaining part regenerates. The removal of
Ill.
tion. The pancreas has been removed from
animals and its place supplied by the duo
denal glands, but in man 50 far such has
not been attempted, since the blood vessels
and peripancreatic nerves are very album
dant. The removal OF the spleen is a COM
mon operation. and in 1901 there came I'M
der DIR. Mauclair's observation sixty-one
cases.
In the respiratory gystem the exsIrpation