The Washington herald., 1907-03-30
GIVES LIFE'S BLOOD
Mans Heart Pumps Strength
Into Dying Wife's Body.
ARTERY IS JOINED TO VEIN
Mrs. Peter Andersons of PhliadeI-
phIa, Pronounced Past All Hope,
and Husband Permits Remarkable
Operation ns Last Resort-ERect Is
lnmedIate-Patient VIII Recover.

Philadelphia. March ga remarkable
operation. news of which has just leaked
out. and one which was one of the most
difficult known 10 medical science, was
successfully performed in this city on last
Saturday even .ng.
Mrs Anderson. thirty-five years old,
1896 South Twentieth street. the wife Of
Peter Anderson. has been sufferer from
aRemia for many years. Although at
times given temporary relief by tonics
and other drugs. her condition would
gradually return to that state of coma for
which the disease Is noted. Mrs. Anderson
had dwlndied almost 10 a skeleton. About
ten days ago her physician, Or. Davis
Riesman. ordered her removal to the
Polytechnic Hospital, where every device
known to the medical profession was
tried. but without avail. Last Saturday
night the end seemed near. A hurried
consultation was called between DIR.
Riesman and the husband. and DR.. G.
n. Dorrance was summoned.
Or. Dorrance had been experimenting
on the blood transfer on animals for
three years, but never on a human sub
ject. When DIR. Dorranee arrived at the
hospital he saw at a glance that the
woman was dying The husband was
quickly etherized, and husband and wife
lay side by side, both unconseiOus-one
from a deathlike coma. and the other
from an anesthetic.
Artery and Vein Joined.
Deliberately yet swiftly. the pulse ar
terry in the mans right arm was severed.
the end connecting with the heart drawn
out and kept from squirting blood only by
the firm grasp of DR.. Dorrance's thumb
and forehnger, the other end closed with
igatures At the same time the large
vein in Mrs. AndeVsons left arm was
opened, the free end Of her husbands ar
terry inserted and tbs juncture clinched
with tiny needles, so infnitesimal as to be
almost invisible
For solid hour the blood was permit
ted 10 flow. Every beat of the mans
heart sent stream Of the red fluid into
his Wife's body. Soon after the first drops
triekled in the effect was noticeable As
time passed il was apparent that life was
returning TO the woman's body.
Her face lost its look Of death, gradu-
ally changing 10 the subdued rose color
which Indicates health.
Praise for Surgeon.
AT last when sixty minutes had licked
away, Dr. Dorrance called a halt. Gently
the artery and veins were loosened. re-
turned to their proper places. and the
natural connections made again Then
Anderson was revived. and as he looked
at his wife. literally brought back from
the edge Of the grave. he burst into
tears.
To-day Mrs. Anderson's blood test shows
that 60 per cent of the all-important red
corpuscles are present. She is cheerful.
happy. and only anxious to go to her own
little home, at 1886 South Twentieth
street Anderson. though stH unable 70
use his arm. is too happy to mind little
thing ike that in view of his great good
fortune. while DR.. Dorrance is being con-
graduated by all his friends in the medi-
cal profession for the successful perform
ance Of such unique and difncult opera
ton.
One physician, whose name stands high
on the list of famous surgeons. said thai
be himself would have been proud TO have
gained such an honor.