The Glenwood post., 1919-10-25
WONDERFUL SKILL
OF GLENwooD BOY
Dr.. G. David Ke|ker Performs
Gland Grating on Prison.
er in California Pen
HOPE OF YOUTH TO AGED

Joe Enzensperger, former proprietor
and owner of the Hotel Glenwood and
the Bolles tract of this city, writes
the Post from Berkeley, California, of
a former Glenwood boy who he de-
clares is fast becoming one of the
most prominent of the physicians and
surgeons of the Pacific coast. The
following is the account of the new
operation, as printed in the San Fran
cisco Examiner:
The tenth successful operation in
gland transplantation to be performed
at the prison with a year took place
yesterday morning at San Quentin
penitentiary, following the execution
of Thomas Bellon who was hanged for
the murder of his mother-in-law. The
interstitial gland, removed from Bel
Ions body Immediately after he had
been pronounced dead, was transplant
ed to the body of prisoner afflicted
with premature age and a depleted
physical condition.
The operation was performed by DR..
G. David Kelker, assistant to DR.. Leo
l.. Stanley resident physician at the
penitentiary. DR.. Kelker was assisted
by Drs R. L. Draper and Russell Lee
Of Lane Hospital I'M San Francisco.
The operation was completed just an
hour after Bellon had been pronounced
dead.
The condition of the patient indicat-
ed, according to DR.. Kelker, that the
transplanting of the interstitial gland
had been sueeessful.
Twelve minutes after the gallows
drop fell the stethescope registered The
final heart beat of the man who had
paid the penalty for murder, and the
body was Immediately cut down, put
in the black casket and hurried to the
prison hospital.
| Here it was placed ON slab close
beside the operating table on which
the prisoner to be operated on lay,
already partially under the Influence
of the anaesthetic.
While final preparations for the ex-
ecution were in progress all arrange
ments had been made for the opera
tion. As the body of Bellon was car
ried into the hospital the patient was
| o,ko.Loks->d .rd o,..
geons at once began their work.
Dr.. Kelker quickly made the nee
essary incision in the body Of the pa
tient, and, turning to the body of the
man who had been executed, laid bare
the gland which may mean renewed
vitality to the patient.
The process Of removing the gland
and transplanting it to the body of
the patient was rapidly completed.
Gland transplantation, as described
by DR.. Kelker is simply the grating
Of tissue, resembling in many respects
the grating or budding of plants or
trees. DR.. Kelkef has assisted DR..
Stanley in nine previous operations
performed at the prison and his OBJ
servation of the results obtained, in
dicate, he declares, that all have been
successful.
As described by DR.. Kelker, that pa
tient on whom the operation was per-
formed was a man so years of age,
but appearing much older. He was
very much under weight and appeared
to be under nourished, having the ap
pearance of a man compelled to per
torn hard labor with insufficient food
for some time past his eyesight had
been failing and his movements indi
Gated extreme weakness, while his
mental condition was that of man
who had lost all interest in life.
This condition generally describe,
that Of all the prisoners who have
been operated upon at the penftentiary
, by Dr.. Stanley, DR.. Kelker said. In
, every previous operation, he added, ar
immediate improvement had been no
ticeable, sometimes becoming evident
within twenty-four hours after the
performance Of the operation. This
Improvement has been manifested by
} restoration Of failing senses, such
- sight, hearing, and appetite, and