Los Angeles herald., 1909-08-18
RISKS Ills LIFE
FOR RELATIVE
HARRY ADAMS GIVES BLOOD
TO GRANDMOTHER
UNUSUAL OPERATION REPORTED
AS SUCCESSFUL
Younq Business Man Stands seven
Minutes While Life Fluid Throbs
Into Aged Woman's
Arteries

Fully realizing that he was risking
his life. Harry Adams, prominent
Young business man of Los Angeles
% years old, underwent TRANSMISSION
of blood operation in an attempt 10
prolong the life of his aged grand
mother, Mrs. Lucy Adams. The opef-
alton is the third in the history oL
surgery. 1t was conducted yesterday
morning at the Home sanitarlum'
Fifty-sixth street and Central avenue;
The young mans blood was lhIuseu
into the veins of his grandmother.
After being fully warned that the
critical operation might result fatally'
voung Adams refused to change ms
mind. and, as a result of the opera
tion. which was successfully per
formed. the surgeons admit that Mrs.
Adams has obtained a new lease OF
life and may live for several years,
although a few days ago her NE was
despaired Of 20
Mrs. Adams is a wealthy woman OIL
Los Angeles, rs years old, put TOT
years has been troubled with can
cerous growth, and when her lie was
despaired of her grandson volunteered
to give his vitality to prolong her hfe'
Volunteered to Take Risk
A consultation of doctors was heid
Sunday morning and it was agreed
that a surgical operation WouId not
have the desired effect and that nerolc
methods would have to be resorted TO-
A similar operation had been per-
formed several months ago, ana by
the TRANSMISSION of blood a life was
saved. or at least prolonged, and 1t was
decided that such an operation lnlghl
have beneficient effect ON Mrs. Adams.
strong. robust and healthy, the
voung grandson volunteered TO take
the risk of prolonginG his grandmoth-,
er's life and the operation, performed
bv four of the most skilled surgeons
in California, took place yesteroay
morning.
Without the use of anesthetics, an
artery in the wrist of young Adams
was opened and, at the same time, the
weakened artery of the left hand OIL
the aged grandmother was opened.
After intricate operations, the ar
teries were ioined, and from the strong
healthy young man coursed the plooo
into the veins of the grandmother
whose death was expected momen-
tarily.
Chatted During Operation
While the operation vas in progress,
with the doctors working hastlly' yet
with the utmost care, the young grand
tive.
When the knife was inserted and the
artery was caught and fastened was
the only time that the stalwart young
man evinced any sign Of pain, and the
aged grandmother, ravaged by dis
ease. bore the trial with stoical in
difference.
When the arteries of the hand of
each had been opened and Joined all
pain ceased, and for seven minutes the
blood of the young man, fastened by
the rapid pulse of youth, coursed
through the veins of his grandmother,
both laughed and remarked at the sac
rifice. while eight doctors stood about
in painful silence, fearful lest the re-
suit of their work might prove in vain.
At the end of an hour the doctors
rave a sigh of relief, the arteries were
unioined and the operation pronounced
a success.
Operation Was Success
IT was the second time in the history
of western surgery that a similar OPP
Grafton had been performed, the fact
that the TRANSMISSION of blood could be
conducted successfully.