Prior to that, an attempt in the 1960s had failed because the patient's body rejected the new hand as foreign tissue.
There was an attempt in 1967 to transplant the hand; but, it failed. 
mnli hypothesis: There was an attempt in 1967 to transplant the hand; but, it failed.  premise: Prior to that, an attempt in the 1960s had failed because the patient's body rejected the new hand as foreign tissue.