Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-11-15
living ORGANS
TRANSPLANT
Dr. Alexis CarreI Tells of Ex-
nerjmentS in Advanced Sur
giCaI Operations.

>uu YORK, Nov. 15.-Dr. Alexis
r,rrst of the Rockefeller institute, who
49,, i,sr been awarded the Nobel prize
~ ,rorl, in surgery, in a lecture recent
-. ,,rd of results in transplanttng liv-
.r organs and the progress that has
,.or made by surgeons engaged in these
pyperiments'
onr of the first experiments explain
f,.- Dr. Carrel was OF a recently dis
,o.a5 method Of blood TRANSMISSION.
..noruIished by means of a gold
nIa+ed silver tube through which blood
,i,l flow from vein to an artery with
oo- causing coagulation. Previously it
had been contended DR.. Carrel said,
,6a- coagulation must take place in this
method Of TRANSMISSION.
The successful transportation of an
.,r from a dog that had been killed
s,r the purpose to the head of another
7,g was also explained by DR.. Carrel.
rhs veins were washed free of blood
hoforo the ear was sewed into place,
brt puIsations were noticed within a
fav hours. Dr. Carrel said, showing
that proper circulation was being es-
,sbIisbed The circulation was COM
pIsta and the operation successful with
in twenty days.
Experimentation Difficult.
Another experimentation has been
found difficult because Of the inability
Of the animal to remain perfectly quiet
So much has this been so, DR. Carrel
said that a day and night nurse for
animals upon which operations have
been performed have been necessary. 1t
has been found also, he said, that in
many cases, after eight or ten days
have elapsed, the dog feels a reaction
against the new limb or organ that has
been supplied although the transplant
\ cd parts are performing the functions
satisfactorily,
DR.. CarreI explained the removal from
. dog Of one kidney and the replacing
later Of the same organ. One month
sitter the operation the dog was exam
iued again and the organ found to be
performing its normal functions Later
both kidneys were removed from the
same dog. one of them, which had
been out of the dogs body for an hour,
was replaced. \ picture of the dog.
taken two years later, was shown by
Dr.. Carrel. The dog was jumping in
the air for a piece Of meat
A Not Sure About Humans.
The difficulty that has been expert
enced in applying these operations to
human beings. according to DR.. Carrel,
is that the surgeons have been unable
to ascertain whether the organs of one
Individual viii perform The same func-
\ lions for another, although, he said, an
operation was partly successful by
which both kidneys We're removed from
cat and the animal supplied with the
organs Of another. Frequently. how
ever, degeneration of the arterial sys-
ten develops, as i'll the case of the cat,
and 1t died from premature old age.
One Of the greatest difficulties now
being encountered, DR.. Carrel explain
ed, is finding a way by which to pre-
serve tissue or organs alive so that they
will be available when most needed.
Cold storage has been found capable of
keeping blood vessels alive for as long
as three months, and skin that has been
Kept in this manner for six weeks sub
seQusntiy has been used in grating
n operations.
IT has also been found that the
nsart lung, stomach and other organs
may be kept alive for short periods
Simply by supplying oxygen to the
lungs Dr. Carrel said, but the prob
lem Is 10 cause life to remain in these
organs and tissues indefinitely"