The Bismarck tribune., 1922-06-30

Copyright, 1922, by NEA serv;cc.)
Is it morally wrong to buy and sell
human glands?
Laws are proposed at the next ses-
sions Of two state le%islatu those
of Illinois and California, prohibiting
human gland transplantation.
Physicians and surgeons all over
the country are bcseiged by men and
women seeking the four tain Of Youth.
In spite of Dr.. Victor D. Lespinasse's
denial that Harold McCormisk,$ Chi
cago millionaire, underwent, dHlys uch
operation, he is the subject ofSmanS
inquiries. ID as.sSN$5 1;
= Gland cases are being recallM ami
discussed, notably th;x in .Whfch ~,
animal gland was gratted on Irving
Bacon of Atlaatic City!!f sS :
The Tribune, through, II. MEI,A I, .segyissss. Sc.
today presents opini oHsspSsn them offldtii
phase of human gland barteIng Civ
en- by physicians, clergyman, woman
publicist, biologist, woman novelist,
and psycho-analyst.
Mrs. Gene Stratton Porter, famous
novelist and illustlfn1ls sofs Rhh s
City, Ind:
Primarily it seems that no human
being should be,'mutilated. Geadingl
surgeons say a gland splantatio,
operation, doing no damage to giver
and great benefit Ito I receiver An
every way, is purely personal mat
ter. If without danger a man can re-
ceive for a gland the price Fef a home
and education for, his family, that is
his affair. TO law will stop. two men
so agreed. If agreed up6n,t the buy
ing and selling of human glands is
all right. Let the givcr be p5fd the
full price of the benefits accruing to
the receiver. Fifty thousand dollars
is not too much"
The Rev. DR.. Mark A. Matthews,
former moderator, general assembly,
Prestcrian church and pastor, First
Presbyterian church, Seattle, Wash:
"No man has q legal, and certainly
not a moral, right to sell his body or
any part Of it. Whether there are
statutes prohibiting such sale or not,
it is wrong from every Fundamental
principle Of law. No one would at
tempt to SELF his body or any part of
it unless he had fallen lower than the
beasts of the field and were viler than
the vile. No one would attempt to buy
human body or any part of it unless
c were devoid of all moral aid and leg
he were devoid of all moral and legal
rcspcctability. Both are contempti-
BILE, vulgar, disgusting and unworthy
Of the respect of all virtue loving
rebplc. The whole suggestion is i'm
m6ral, illegal, repulsive and offer.
sive." 81
DR.. Thomas W. Edgar, physician
and surgeon, pioneer in study OF
glands, who performed the operation
in the famous Irving Bacon glandula.
! case: ....r.' Il
"Gland transplantation is no long.
er an experiment, but a reality. 1t is
not at all immoral. It is within tht
law to sell one creative gland, but
Of course only the rich can reap tho
benefits of such barter. 1t would be
better if laws were passed, as I have
been advocating for two years, pro
viding for central hospital where
the glands, and also the bones anc
tissues, of healthy young persons
killed in accidents might be refrig
Grated and used for transplantatiol
for the benefit. of the human race.
Mrs. Mary Wade Dennctt, prcsi
dent of the Voluntary Parenthoos
League:
Regarding the buying and selling
of. human glands, can speak onl,
from the humanist point of view
The question of gland transplantatio
| is so new that final wisdom is in,
possible. Scientists still are expert
menting, but from present knowledg
my instinct is morally against allow
ing the sale Of vital part of tn
human body. 1t is different wit
blood transfusionA because the bod
constantly makes new blood and tn
damage is not irrcparablc.. ). But whc
a gland is removed surgically, natul
does not make new glands; we shoul
be guided by that basic principle. $
I believe laws should be made to PR
tect unwisc and rash persons even
they are willing to sell their Wit
:, glands"
| Professor Herbert Vincent nRea