BACK TO LIFE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 126, 30 May 1934, Page 5

BACK TO LIFE.

DEAD DOG RESTORED. YOUNG EXPERIMENTER'S FEAT Si WHAT HE HAS LEARNED. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SAN FRANCISCO, May 9. Western America has been much interested in the startling experiments of the young Californian research eavant, Dr. Robert E. Cornish, in restoring life to animals. He believes the methods can be successfully resorted to in the case of human beings. What has the resurrection of the mongrel dog at the University contributed to science? Has the breathing, semi-conscious canine, restored to lite after being pronounced dead, brought science any nearer an answer to the age-old problem of whether the dead can be returned to life ? These are the questions which Dr. Cornish answered ill the dilapidated, once condemned ''old anatomy building" on the University of j California campus, where he has been working day and night on the under-, taking that has been front-page news j throughout the United States since April 13. . I

"Whether this dog lives or not," lie began, "and regardless of the outcome of this experiment, the project has aided us materially in our efforts to restore life by scientific means where death has occurred through asphyxiation, drowning or electrocution. What has the experiment taught us?" he repeated. "It has taught us that quicker steps must be taken to increase the volume of blood in the revived subject and to spare the brain cells from being permanently injured by the shock of death and by the terrific pounding of the heart immediately after the action of the heart and breathing have been restored in the once dead animal. Some time after wc had brought life back into the dog we injected physiological salts to increase the volume of the blood and to

pull down the heart action. The dog's heart, which normally should have functioned with 100 beats a minute, pounded away at the rate of 200 a minute. Soon after our saline 'njeetions the heart action slowed down. But before we had brought this about, the rapid heart action had benumbed the brain. The dog now is semi-conscious. Whether the brain cells ever will return to normal is doubtful.

"Therefore we have learned from this experiment that we must keep down the heart beats, at once—immediately after life has been restored. And that, I consider, is an important forward step in our work." Short of Research Funds. Dr. Cornish, as he spoke, looked about him, scanning the laboratory. Piled at one end were a dozen tanks of oxygen. Retorts, flasks, crucibles —apparatus of every description gave the room an aspect of a chemistry and physics laboratory thrown into one. "Where are we to get funds to proceed?" he asked dubiously. "I have financed this myself—that is, with the help of friends and interested persons who have given small sums of money and equipment. I do not know where to turn for further help." For a week after his experiment began last April 13, he remained night and

day beside the slowly-'breathing dog. When fatigue overcame him he stretched himself out on the dirty 'board floor of his laboratory, clothes and all, snatching a few winks of sleep, to be awakened by a whimper or slight movement jof the animal beside him. Most of the scant meals he had eaten were taken to him in the stifling, poorly ventilated laboratory. Scientist Prodigy. Dr. Cornish bears the distinction of being the youngest man ever to receive a Ph.D. degree from the University of California. That came to him at the age of 22 and he is now 31. "When did I get the idea of devoting myself to the problem of reviving the : dead?" He repeated the interviewer's , question. "Why, years ago, when I j was a boy, a student at Berkeley High , School. We were studying artificial respiration. I resolved to make a study to learn what science could do toward reviving the dead in cases of asphyxiation, electrocution and drowning. And I feel that I can contribute something hy persistent work along that line."

He explained that he had not originated the methods he was using. In fact, he said, they were used firstly 30 years ago by Dr. George Crile, of Cleveland, in restoring dogs and humans to life for short periods. "I am developing further the experimentation he started," he declared.

A telephone call interrupted the inter, view. The doctor dashed out ot the laboratory, rushing across the path to a parking lot. He stepped briskly past a line of new modelled sedans, the machines of students and faculty members. The car to which he went was a flivver of ancient vintage. Wads of cotton batting were rolling out from the torn upholstery. One door hung by a single hinge. The badly worn top seemed about to fall. And to make matters worse, he had received a letter asking him to remove himself from the "old anatomy building," as it was alleged the university authorities were exercised about the undue publicity he had obtained by his "resurrection" experiments.