The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1905-10-13
SURGEONS AMAZED
By Gait AUTOPSY
BODY HEouEATHED TO SCIENCE
pIscLosEs CONDITIONS uN.
SUSPECTED BY PROM.
NENT SURGEONS.

NEW YORK. Oct. 13.-What were
regarded as very unusual conditions
we're observed yesterday by surgeons
who performed an autopsy upon the
body of George William Gait, which,
by the terms of the will Of the wealthy
ciyil engineer was bequeathed to sci
entists for dissection.
II was found that the pancreas was
so atrophied that the surgeons believe
that II had not performed its func.
fions for months. Those who were
present said that 1t was an unprece.
dented condition so far as they knew
and expressed surprise that the pa
tient could have lived SO long in such
d state.
In accordance with the terms of the
peculiar testament the body was ex.
amined In the dissectipg room OF the
New York University and Bellevue
Hospital Medical School, where II had
been taken after elaborate ceremo-
MES. II had been lying surrounded
hy seventeen of the pauper dead be-
fore II was placed upon the table.
The autopsy was performed by DR..
Harlow Brooks. pathologist Of the col
iege, and there were present DIR.
Earl II. Wayne. who was Mr.. Cats
physician; Or. John Frederick Erd-
man. Or. George d. Stewart, DR.. Eg.
bert 1-efevre. the dean of the institu-
tfous and DR. William H. Weston, a
ccroner's physician.
an the diseases for which Mr.. Gait
had been receiving treatment, it was
found. lad existed, including perforat-
ing Ulcers, peritonitis and gall stones.
The removal of the pancreas caused
the surgeons present TO cypress 5heIr
astonishment when they saw how ii
had witliereu. The organ was exam
iI:ed and minute portions of it placed
under the microscope.
Symptoms Of intestinal troubles
we're manifested when Mr.. Gait first
became Ill. They often develop afte.
an attack of malarial fever. but Mr..
Gait had never been afflicted with
ti,at malady. During his Illness and
sfter he had been operated upon in
DR.. Bulls private sanitarium there
had been no indications Of pancreatis
Chemical and meteorological analysis
will be made this week for the pur.
rose Of ascertaiuing what caused the
decay of the paucreas.
Physicians sag that the pancreas is
one of the most delicate organs of the
body. 1t supplies fluid which per-
forms an important part in digestion.
its principal functions being to digest
starchy foods which the gastric juices
do not convert. The action of the
pancreatic juice is complicated and
much concerning it is not thoroughly
understood by scientists.
Physicians said yesterday that the
discovery made by the autopsy upon
the body OF Mr.. Gait might prove of
great value, The pancreatic juice has
always been considered by physicians
indispensable to digestion and to the
maintenance of life.
Mr.. Cats body will be given to the
second year students for dissection
under the supervision of one of the
demonstrators. After the demonstra-
ton for the benefit of the students is
completed. the body will be cremated
The coffin In which 1t was taken 10
the medical school was destroyed by
the undertakers and the flowers sent
to the funeral were distributed to the
patients of Rellevue HosnitaI