Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-19
GIFT OF BODY HELPED SCIENCE.
knowledge Gained by Dissection of DIR.
Gait Saved Life

Using the knowledge gained through the
dissection of the body of DR.. George w.
Gait, who willed 1t to science, the diseased
portion of the pancreas of a young wo-
man patient was removed In New York
yesterday and her life probably saved, or at
least given her good chance to live many
more years than would have been her por-
ton had the Gait bequest not been made.
The patient, who was thought to be suf-
fering from appendicitis until an operation
disclosed the real cause, is in DIR. Bulls san
itarium, and is said to be in such a con-
dftion that her recovery Is considered GER
tain.
If the operation IS so successful, from
The standpoint of the patient, it will have
been one of the speediest benefits that the
medical profession has ever had from a be-
quest similar to that of DIR. Gait, which
was carried into effect only a week ago.
1t is likely that surgeons, in recognition
of the mans services to science, will here
after call dt the "Catt operation"
When the physicians had diagnosed the
young woman's ailment as appendicitis
they lost no time In placing her upon the
operating table. 1t was quickly found
that the vermiform appendix was un-
affected. and that instead there was a
malignant growth In the head of the pam
creas, the gland which furnishes the juice
needed by the stomach for digesting food.
1t was at this point that the knowledge
gained through the autopsy on DIR. Cats
body became of practical value for the
first time The condition of Dr. Cats
pancreaS had shown that person may live
for an indefinite period with a gland that
had become entirely useless, and so 1t was
decided by DR.. Holden that under the
circums tances the eXcision of the affected
part of the organ was not only juStifiable
hut absolutely necessary in order to save
her life. The operation was proceeded
with, and the young woman recovered from
its effects rapidly.
de- too 20 lr,, ,r,a3 ; -.
suits of the operation will be, doctors say
That the digestion of the patient will be
impaired somewhat is said to be inevitable
But this injury will not, it is believed, be
so great but that 1t can be made up for
by artificial means and through the in
creased activity OF other organs. At the
very worst 1t is expected that the young
woman will have digestion for which
John d. Rockefeller would give millions.
Exactly what part the pancreas played In
the human economy has long been a ques-
ton of debate among medical men. 1t was
known that the juice that 1t supplied aided
digestion, and 1t was also believed that it
had its effect upon the number and condi-
ion of the corpuscles of the blood That its
existence was necessary to life was gener-
ally believed and beyond some few slight
operations upon 1t none dared to interfere
with Its uses even when malignant growths
that would soon destroy life itself were
known to be eating 1t away.
The revelations that came with the au-
topsy on the body of DR.. Gait threw flood
Of light upon the subject. The man who
gave his body to the use of his fellowmen
was found to have existed for years with
a pancreas that had been absolutely USE
less. When surgeons learned this fact
they decided that the pancreas was not the
important organ that it had long been
thought, and SO DIR. Holden and his aids
did not hesitate to attack with the knife
what few weeks before they would have
deemed as vulnerable almost as the heart.
With this operation as a pioneer a new
line of operative procedure is opened to the
world of surgery. The organs that are to
be regarded absolutely essential to life
are one less In number and those per-
sons who are afflicted with a malignant af-
lection Of the pancreas may now hope for
life after the surgeons knife has destroyed
its function and with 1t the disease with
which dt had become possessed