The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1911-01-21
Lengthening of Bones and Mend
ing Of Veins.
Most Interesting Of Advanced Meth
DDS Applies to Stimulating OF os-
seous Growth Artifically by
Injecting Formalin.

New ork.--Limbs may be length.
ened by stimulating the growth of the
bones and cut arteries repaired with
metal rings something in the manner
adopted in joining water mains, ac-
cording to methods of the new surgery
described in the current medical
Journals.
One of the most interesting of the
advanced methods applies to the
stimulation of osseous growth artl-
ficially by injecting formalin. This Is
solution of the gas formaldehyde
used as disinfectant and preserva-
tive. and the liquid has been en-
ployed not only in its pure state. but
in the two per cent. solution.
The experiments which have been
conducted so far by DR.. r. o. Nielsen
bach are described by him In the
Journal of Orthopedic Surgery, and
there is an editorial upon them In the
Medical Record of this city. Doctor
Meisenbach conducted his expert
ments on the legs OF rabbits, selecting
usually the right tibias and using the
left as a control or means of COM
pairing results.
He also availed himself OF mechan-
lcal means, but the most satisfactory
results were obtained with the
! formalin injections. 1t Is said the In
PRODUCTION of the solution, which also
has high antiseptic qualities. stimu
lates the secretion of lime from the
tibrous tissue which covers the
cartilage and thus builds up the bone.
II this method should be applied to
human beings, it might be of great
value, and the medical authorities
think such an application of the dis
covery is far from remote.
1t is held that the formalin stimu-
ation may serve as stepping stone
to a new method of treatment in bone
cases which have hitherto baffled the
skill of surgeons. Zones which have
stubborn compound fractures might
thus be made to reunite, and limbs
which are abnormally shortened
through the arrest of the growth Of
bone, as is so frequently the case In
children after attacks of infantile
paralysis, could be heightened.
, The discovery might extend even tc
the treatment of tuberculosis of tht
bones and to various diseases which
affect the framework of the body
There are numerous cases where per
sons who have broken arms or leg
are crippled permanently even will
all the attention which skilled surger,
can give, and were it possible to ere
ate new bones at the places where i
, Is required many limp would b
avoided
The modern surgeon, therefore, b
: taking thought may yet be able to ad
. 10 the stature of man The result
have been very encouraging. ACCORD
ing to the scientific reports. for som
of the best of them were obtained b
only one injection of the formalin.
Joining of the ends of a part !
artery by the use of rings of til
metal magnesium is described in tn
last number of the Journal of tn
Amertcih Meulcal ASSOCIATION by DR.
V Lespinasse. G Carl Fisher an
!, j. Eisentaedt in an article desert
: tive of their work in the departmer
: Of experimental surgery in the Mort
western university medical schoc
They acknowledge the assistance
. Drs zeit, Wolfer. Violet. Deason ar
Solomon.
. The vessel had been clamped
!, !: either side of the cut, and the en-,
sewed into holes in the magnesiu
= rings. The tissue is secured firml
q and the two fiat rings are fit,
. against each other and bound toget
. er by passing silk thread through Il
holes In the rims. This is only