The Elbert County tribune., 1911-01-13
Lengthening of Bones and Mend
ing of Veins.
Most Interesting Of Advanced Meth
ods Applies to Stimulating Of os-
seous Growth Artifically by
Injecting FormaI!n.

New York.-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 arti-
ficially by injecting formalin. This is
a solution of the gas formaldehyde
used as a disinfectant and preserva-
tive. and the liquid has been en-
ployed not only in It's pure state. but
in the two per cent. solution.
The experiments which have been
conducted SO far by DR.. r. o. Meisen-
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-
ical 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
fibrous tissue which covers the
cartilage and thus builds up the bone.
If this method should be applied to
human beings. 1t 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-
lation may serve as a stepping stone
to a new method of treatment in bone
cases which have hitherto bafied 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 to
the treatment of tuberculosis of tho
bones and to various diseases which
affect the framework of the body.
There are numerous cases where per-
sons who have broken arms or legs
are crippled permanently even with
all the attention which skilled surgery
can give. and we're 1t possible to Gre
ate new bones at the places where it
is required many a limp would be
avoided.
The modern surgeon. therefore, by
taking thought may yet be able to add
to the stature of man. -he results
have been very encouraging. accord
ing to the scientific reports. for some
Of the best Of them were obtained by
only one injection of the formalin.
Joining of the endG of a parted
artery by the use of rings of the
metal magnesium is described In the
last number of the Journal of the
American Medical association by Drs.
v. Lespinasse. G. Carl Fisher and
j. Eisentaedt. In an article descrip-
tive of their work in. the department
OF experimental surgery in the North.
western university medical school
They acknowledge the assistance of
Drs. zeit. Wolfer. Violet. Deason and
Solomon.
The vessel had been clamped at
either side Of the cut. and the ends
sewed into holes in the magnesium
rings. The tissue is secured firmly.
and the two fiat rings are fitted
against each other and bound togeth-
er by passing silk thread through the
holes in the rims. This is only q