Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-09-21

THAT the cells OF which the hui
man body is composed can
live forever is the remark
able conclusion reached by DR..
Alexis Carrel, the eminent biologist,
as a result of recent experiments
carried out at the Rockefeller In
stitute Of Medical Research.
II this be true, then, of course
physical Immortality, the dream Of
ages, becomes a possibility.
DIR. Carrel has been working along
these lines for several years. His
most recent experiments demon
strate, in brief, that human cells
may be kept alive indefinitely If
sustained in the proper medium and
kept al the proper temperature. In
other wards, Immortality, as far as
living cdJs goes. Is only question
Of protecting the cell from destruc-
tive forces and continually providing
it with the sustenance 1t requires.
Cells do not necessarily die. They
are killed by outside influences or
through lack of nourishment
Curiously enough, Seneca, the
great Roman philosopher declared
some two thousand years ago that
man doesn't die-he kills himself
Recent scientific research seems to
indicate that this may be so, and
that II his various vital organs are
properly safeguarded, nourished and
renovated from time 10 time there
is no reason why man should not
live forever. Physical immortality
becomes now merely matter OF
scientific vigilance.
DR. Carrel's early experiments are
more or less familiar. few years
ago his one great ambition was TO
ascertain whether human tissue
could be kept alive outside OF the hui
man system. Could a microscopic
piece of tissue be taken from the
body and kept alive in a glass yes
sel-in vitro. as the scientists desig
nate t.?
The scientist experimental along
these lines for years trying to ind
proper medium in which to keep
alive the severed tissue. His efforts
were rewarded with success His
experiments demonstrated that hu-
man tissue did not necessarily die
as soon as il was sepa rated from the
body. BY immersing It in certain so
buttons, consisting principally Of
blood plasma he found that II con
tinued to live.
The next step was 10 ascertain
whether tissue thus severed from
the human body could be- made 70
grow. DR.. Carrers experiments con
clusively established that connective
tissue cells could be preserved per
manently in vitro in a condition of
active life.
And now further experiments have
warranted the scientist in drawing
the conclusion that this condition of
active life may be made TO continue
forever
Dr. Carreps most recent expert
ments were carried on during the
Ave months OF 1913 with strains OF
connective tissue cells derived from
tissues extirpated from embryonic
or adult chickens during the months
of January and June. 1912. and Feb
ruary, 1913.
The fragments Of tissue composed
OF these cells were preserved In a
medium composed Of tw- parts "
adult chicken pasmu and one part
Of juice taken from a chick embryo
eight days old Every two or three
day. the tissue was removed from
the culture medium. washed for thir
.ty seconds or one minute in Ringer
solution. divided into TWO or three
parts If its volume had increased,
and placed in a new medium at a
temperature ~ thirty-uine degrees
centigrade.
This fragment soon surrounded
itself with a large number Of cells.
which formed a Lew tissue After
forty-eigh' hours the ring Of new
q tissue was measured with a micro
meter, al instrument for measuring
matter which can be seen only IN
der a microscope. II was found thar
the rate uf growth of tissue thus
preserved remained constant as long