New-York tribune., 1919-10-13
Grating of Interstitial
Glands, Proposed by DR..
Noronoff, Declared Still
in Experimental Stage
Author Advises Caution
More Exhaustive Study Is
Needed to Make Theory
a Certainty, He Explains
N.lr Yocl. TrihAn.


COP lsAt 1919. New York Tribune Inc)
PARIS, Oct 1.-THE claim recently
made by DR.. Serge VoronotF, surgeon
and member Of tho French Academy.
that be Is able to arrest the decay
OF the human organism which ac-
companies old age by grating inter-
stltial glands from healthy ape upon
the human body seems to be attracting
more attention abroad thar in France.
Popular criticism here insists on
empha sizing the various humorous
possibilities of the situation. while
the attitude Of other French scientists
Is one Of suspended judgment.
Noronof contends that the human
lnterstlrlal glands manufacture a fluid
which is absorbed by the blood and
gives vitality TO the whole body He
declares when these glands are worn
cut they become hardened and the
whole organism decays. He announces
that IN many experiments upon
animals. such as apes, ewes and rams.
by simple operation requiring only
local anesthetie he has grated the
glands of one animal upon the body Of
another, with the result that the
youthful vigor Of the animal treated
Immediately has returned.
Professor Voronof asserts he met
with equal success when he grated the
glands OF an ape upon the bodies Of
two old men. lie is Withholding the
names of the men treated as a pro-
fessional secret. and declares he is ur-
ready to draw any definite conclusions
from his experiments. because. as ne
says, "the question is still in the la
boratory stage. and the experiment
must be studied far more cXhaustively Y
before any sober scientist would dare
TO stake his reputation on a decisive
statement"
In tho opinion of other scientists.
such as Professor Marin Theodore
Tufier, known in connection with his
grating experiments at the Rockcfei-
ler Institute, the public should not at
tach undue Importance to results OBJ
tanned while the matter is still in an
experimental stage.
Professor Tuhier and others who
share his opinions admit the posi-
bilty that Noronotf's operation would
exercise q limited degree of control
over the secretive glands OF the human
body and thus rctard decay, out they
insist that an immense area OF
ground must be traversed be-
lOre any one can c!alM ,Na' youth can
be restored.
These scientists are willing 70 ad-
NIT that grating might, probably
would, act as stimulent producing d
sudden flame of vigor, but they CON
tend that, when the immediate effect
had died down, the process of decay
probably would be only more rapid.
Professor TufFier and his associates
are inclined 20 believe that Professor
Voronof's experiment is as doubtful
as the late Professor Metchnikotf's s
theory that bodily decay could be re-
tarded by stopping fermentation in
the large intestine. Moreover, they
contend that individuality plays such
a large part in the human organism
that, with the exception Of skin and
fat, it is impossible 10 say whether
tissues taken from one body can be
assimilated by another.
Professor Voronoff IS an expert
mental surgeon of international rep
utation and is director OF the French
laboratory college.