The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-09-10
SERUM RUSHED
BY AIR SAVES
MOTHER
Death Averted When Rare
Compound Is Delivered
at Chicago Hospital.
NEW HOPE is GIVEN
Added Supply Is Expected
to Curb RavageS of
AddiSon'S Disease.
BIZ United Press

~ CNtted ff6S6
CHICAGO, Sept. 10--A wan,
disease sallowed mother smiled a
challenge today to death, forestalled
by rare serum rushed here by air
plane from Buffalo, N. Y.
Physicians had said Mrs. Andrew
Nelson could not live unless a
supply Of cortin, gland extract.
could be found to withstay the
ravages of the rare Addison's
disease. Mrs. Nelson herself had
abandoned hope. Her husband and
six children were heartsick.
In answer to a nationwide ap-
peal, DR.. Frederick A. Hartman of
Buffalo Wednesday dispatched 200
cubic centimeter- of the extract by
airplane. One plane scared to
Cleveland with the precious cargo.
1t was taken across the city in a
speeding police car, with a United
Press representative guarding it. A
Chicago-bound National transport
plane relayed it to municipal field
here.
At 80 miles an hour, police car
bore the serum, guarded by another
United Press representative, to
Billings Memorial hospital of the
University of Chicago.
Death Is Cheated
DR.. Richard Torpin administered
the life-giving compound last night
Death had been averted.
Il had given up hope yesterday"
said Mrs. Nelson, from her hospital
cot today. But now 1 am deter
mined to get well. I know the Sc
rum will do it. feel better al
ready"
Comment of Andrew Nelson, the
husband, came as he and four of
his children stood waiting at the air.
port here when the big silver
winged tri-motored plane glided
down.
THANK God that mother is liv-
ing in the twentieth century," he
exclaimed, tears in his eyes.
Nelson, carpenter, who has been
without regular work for two years.
and the four children rode in the
police squad car to the hospital
and could announce the arrival of
the cortin with a CHEEKY "Here it
is, mother; you'll get well now"
Voices Her Thanks
THANK everybody" Mrs. Nelson
murmured, her eyes lighting up.
Il hardly can believe every one
would go to so much trouble for
me-"
Nelson, too, had praise for the
kindness of those who had collabo-
rated in bringing the remedy. He
said:
IF 1t had not been for DR.. Hart
man, the air lines, the police. the
hospitals, and the United Press.
mother surely would have died. I
had no money. There was nothing
could do"
DIR. Torpin said the aerial ship
ment certainly had averted Mrs.
Nelson's death for the time being.
The shipment, he said, would last
about week. Before the supply
is exhausted, he hopes to have
more.
The Buffalo laboratory was the
only place in the country where
cortin, made from the adrenal
glands of cattle, was available. DR..
Hartmen spent most of Wednesday
dlstilling the extract. The 200 CEN
ttmeter, she obtained required
glands of 900 cattle.
Disease Usually Fatal
Addisons disease usually proved
fatal until the gland extract was
evolved as treatment. Like insulin
in the treatment of diabetes, III f
cortin can not be discontinued.
Patients treated with it improve onlv
as long as the treatment is main
tanned.
Bottles containing the precious
extract were handed to a United
Press reporter in Buffalo, who
placed them on an American t.ir-
ways plane at p. m. Wednesday.
The N. A. T. plane to which they
were transferred started for Chi
cago at 2:48 p. m. and arrived here
at 6 p. m.
Addison's disease affects the SUI
prenal capsules GLANDS believed to
furnish internal secretion which in
creases blood pressure). Progress
of the disease is one of gradual
weakening and lowering of the
blood pressure.
The skin darkens, flesh wastes
away and the patient sinks into
death unless cortin treatment is adj
ministered.