The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-11-08
$40 WORTH
OF HIS LIFE BLOOD
Saves Dying Boy In Bellevue
Hospital
RESULT IS SATISFACTORY
Sixteen Ounces of Blood Is Pumped
From Veins of Healthy Man Into
Those of Suffering.
Boy.
RESULT is SATISFACTORY

From the New York World.
Sixteen ounces of blood were trans
fused yesterday from the arteries of Mark
Owen, 80 years old, a resident of ths
Mills hotel, into the veins of John DEN
nison, 16 years old, patient in BELLEVUE
hospital suffering from a bone tunnor In
the left shin bone The operation was
performed by Professor Hartwell and
DIR. M. j. Johnson, with cocaine as a To-
cal anaesthetic, and the flow from the
arterial system of the giver to the vein
Gus system of the receiver was continued
from II o'clock in the morning untIl I an
in the afternoon
Notwithstanding the loss of such a
quantity of blood, Owen was able to rise
unasslsted, and after he had Dartaken
OF TWO raw eggs and an ounce of brandy.
he walked out of the hospital as Vigorous
ly as when he entered. A $40 bill in his
pocket was the reward for his sacrifice.
lie experienced a sensation of languor.
and was not quite as rudy as he was
before the operation, but otherwise his
physical condition was normal.
Owen was selected from among half
dozen candidates in the hotel willing
to yield up their blood for a considera-
ton. A physical examination proved him
to be sound in all the vital organs. and
the character of his pulse Indicated that
ne was what is popularity known as full
blooded.' He was directed to go to Belle
Vue on Friday night. There he underwent
second examination. His blood was
tested and found to contain the full per-
centage of hemaglobin and healthy red
corpuscles.
Effect Was Magical.
AT IL o'clock he was taken to the onerat-
ing theatre and placed alongside the boy
whose life depended on his assistance.
Professor Hartwell, Dr. Brown. two as
sistants and a nurse were in readiness.
Cocaine was injected into the forearm
OF owen, and when sensation had been
deadened an incision was made in the
radial artery, and the fine pointed nozzle
of cannu1a-a pipe-like device used In
such operations-was inserted. The other
end was introduced into one of the large
veins In the arm of the boy. The an
aesthetic had been applied previously, so
the boy did not experience any more
sensation than he would feel In the cut
ting of finger nail.
As soon as the connection between the
two bodies was made the pressure on
the supply pipe was released, and Owen s
heart began to pump the blood into the
veins of the boy. There was a slight
palfng of Owens face and a corresponding
! flush In the face of the boy. When first
placed on the operating table the latter
was almost moribund. His pulse was
barely pereeptible. Respiration was ir-
regular and weak. Within an hour after
the vital fluid from the arteries of the
strong man began to course through his
veins his pulse became stronger, his eyes
brighter and he breathed more naturally.
The flushing of his face indicated that a
perfect circulation had been established
The flow was shut off at intervals so
that the boys heart might accommodate
itself to the new conditions 1t was called
upon to perform. AT 1:30 o'clock Profess
sor Hartwell gave the signal to ease
pumping"
Owen Not Distressed.
you had better lie still for couple
of hours" said one of the assistants to
Owen. you are likely to feel weak for
little while.'
'Oh, I'm all right" said Owen, putting
his feet to the floor and getting up. 81
guess l don't want to lie down. I think
I'll be getting across town. and with
that he dressed himself and walked out.
At 10 o'clock last night Dennison was
in tip-top condition and announced his
intention of leaving the hospital within
"a hours. This will not be permitted be-
cause of the serious nature of his disease,
which is generous