The Washington times., 1920-04-27
LSBRA|N TUMOR
BY PUMPING IN AIR
Baltimore Specialist Paves Way
To End ldiocy With an
Operation.

BALTIMORE, April 27.-DT, Walter
L. Dandy, associate in surgery at
Johns Hopkins Hospital, has discov-
cred a process by which purined air
is pumped into the channels OF the
human brain. thus making possible
a study of the living brain, something
that has been the dream OF scientists
for generations.
The discovery Is OF tremendous i'm
portance in that II already has saved
scores of persons from idiocy ana
premature death, by making possible
the exact location OF brain tumors'
and thus, after having been located
their removal
The discovery OF DIR. Dandy is the
result of a long series OF experiments
on animals whose lives have been
sacrificed that humans might De
saved.
In each hemisphere of the brain
there is a large centricle or chamber
connecting with an elaborate system
of channels leading to the surface or
the brain, which is in turn criss-
crossed with these channels or lines
These ventricles are filled with
fluid, produced apparently by one OF
the glands and delivered to the brain
through the spine. This fluid passes
slowly to the surface of the BRAIN
tneTe TO De dDSOTutu py tuo pie'h
tissue, and IL might be described as
the fluid on which the brain feeds.
study Water on the Brain.
An excess of this fluid in the brain
cavity is known as hydro-cephalus, or
water on the brain, although science
has not yet discovered just what
causes IL. But DIR. Dandy has dis
covered that II frequently follows
tumor which blocks the passage of
the fluid. Nature provides but one
method of disposing OF 1t, absorption
When that is prevented by tumor
the fluid collects and presses against
the brain. destroying II. Sometimes
patients will live for years as i'm
beetles.
Prior to DR.. Dandy's discovery. ef-
forts to locate such tumors by means
Of the X-ray were futile.
Experiments with air were tried on
monkeys and other lower animals,
Dandy finally hit on the idea OF try
ing purified air. This was pumped
into the ventricles through an aper-
ture made in the back of the skull or
in the spinal column. Repeated ex-
periments failed to develop any Ill
effects, and after 1t had been thor
oughly tested it was applied to hu-
mans.
In every case where II has been
used the method has been successful
in locating tumors and other brain
obstructions within a hairbreadth.
One of the most remarkable features
Of the discovery is that it is most ef-
ficacious when only a local anesthetic
is used. At first DR.. Dandy used
complete anesthetic.
Currs InbeeIIity.
Then he tried an anesthetic design
cd only to kill the pain of boring
through the skull and into the ven
tricle. 1t was discovered that the pa
tient felt no i'll effects and was able
to give assistance to the surgeon.
In one case described by DR.. Dandy
a patient was operated on half
dozen times for a tumor of the brain
without success. DR.. Dandy used his
process and located the tumor, which
was removed from point not consid-
cred by diagnosticians. A photograph
Of the patient prior to the operation
showed a face with sagging lines and
the vacant stare of imbecility. y
photograph a few months after the
operation by DR.. Dandy showed man
apparently in full possession OF his
senses,