Restoration of Dead Animals to Life.

Evening Star, Issue 6914, 29 May 1885, Page 4

Restoration of Dead Animals to Life.

The transfer of blood from the bodies of healthy persons to those of the sick for the purpose of sustaining the strength and prolonging life has been praotised by physicians, with limited success, for several centuries, ftome very curious experiments in this direction have been made in Denver, Col., by Mr Gr A, Armitage, an account of which, written by his assistant, Mr James L. Finch, was given in the Denver « Daily News,' from which we quote the following !--'" The subject operated upon was a medium-Blzed terrier (Jag. It was securely tied, and an incision made in an artery in his neck, by which the animal was bled to death. He certainly passed through all the symptoms of dying, and soon after the last blood issued from tho wound his frame be. came fixed and rigid, aud his eyos showed tho senseless glare of death. The room was kept ftt ft temperature of 70deg Fah., while the dog lay for three hours dead, By this timo he nad beoome very stiff and oold, He was now placed in a warm wator bath that was constantly maintained at a temperature of ICodeg, and was continually and thoroughly nthW, mid (is lie became pliant his limbs were gently worked about and his whole body rendered supple. A half pint of foot water was now passed into his stomach through (v liavd rubber tube that was forced down his cusophagun. When this was comp'ished, the mouth of a rubber tube, alUolied tO a bellows, was introduced into his windpipe, and fts the bellows were provided with a double valve, by wliluh the air could be withdrawn as well as inhaled, tho dog's none wus uocurely fastened up. A large and powerful Newfoundland dog that had been obtained for the purpose had boen tied near bv, and was now bled, while the attending surgeon proceeded to adjust the transfusing apparatus, and began to slowly Inject the live dog's blood into the dead one. Siinultanoously Mr Armitage began slowly working tho respiratory bellows, while I kept rubbing the animal and bunding his limbs aild body to facilitate circulation. We could not httvo been more anxious about the issue of our efforts if thay had beon mad'a on a human being instead of a dumb brute. Wtiwi it pint of fresh blood had been injected, I could see some ehiWgP flbout the eyes of the dog. But no one spoke. One thought was common to all —wotdd life come back! In a, few moments more there was certainly a convulsive tremor uutioeable in the body. Mr Armitage, in undisguised excitement, said to the surgeon.'Press the blood%' In a minute or two more the dog gaspgj and soon attempts to eject the respiratory tubo, which was accordingly withdrawn. This was followed by gasps and a B»tcl)i n g °f the breath, while the eyes grow brighten- uiul more natural. The rubbing and blood ejecting were yet applied, and the dog was struggling as if in a lit. But his effort* became less violent, and he began a low whine. A compress was now placed on the artery, and in twenty-two minutes after thii fir§fc blood was injected he sits up, after having been dead three hours and twenty minutes. The dog then di-unk a broth that had been prepared for him in case of his revival, and soon got up and walked about. He was furnishea with u, poMfortflMe bed uiZV t'be stove, and from this time forward his recovery wag SO rapid that in two days he was turned out to i'«m« the fit-reefs, He is iiuty a rugged character in good health, with seemingly 1)0 bad remembrance of his resurrection. The sect***! egge was tested on-December 2. The subject selected -mtm * oalf Jst* Weeks ojd. The details of treatment were simiW j|jg fprPL'ojngi except for greater convenience a hoc vapur Wfl3 substituted for the warm water immersion. tui> ad!, after being bled to death, was left for twelve imm jjefajep (is, rftijuspjtation was undertaken, as it was (|QSJral))p to i, ou \f fj longer deatli interval could be successfully pas«.d QYtis The fresh bl>,od in jected into its circulatory system H'flS (IrftWD ir/jm ft yearling steer. It required thirtyfive minute, to rastorfc the calf to life after the transfusion of the lli'St i)li)ot\, Tho Ottlf tfjei) drank some warm milk, and has since grown and tjfrjypj) without perceptible interruption or ailment. The next experiment was of a different character, ami was nmdo 'with .» view to see if a drowned animal could be resioi'ud to lif(3. A small dog was forced under water and drowned. He was then taken out, and laid with his head incline] downward to drain his lungs of wr.ter, and left for four hours in iv warm room. It will be noticed that this was ((jjite a different and more hopeless case than t'lio pretjeding, aa th e dog had all his own blood yet in his voiua, 'After ftlt hour in the warm bath, and constant rubbing and %'gvking, his veins were opened at three di7foi'eift fiain& Jfl admjt of the escape of any blood that might issiw toom ihem, fthd the injecting apparatus was vigorously r t ppjje(| to the arterial system. After fifty minutes o( *«i*lPU3 labQVj Signs <?f revivification were observable. The poor beast whined pitcously as life was being once more fiiltJUWl within him. Notwithstanding greufc"uiM* *fta tftlifeli .fif. hid!) ill 1 remained weak for several day*, but noem* uov to bp in gooi' condition. A fourth enso was li&.jjtly tried, the subject bein;,' a dog that was strangled aim wftfflYgrdj fruz-'ii—as he could not lie frozen without strangling—bup t|)is was unsuccessful. After four hours of labo*. uu sfgnj of returning life were notable. It is believed, "however that this may yet succeed, and the life of a frp^en

animal may be restored. It is proper to add that, in the first cases, after the blood ceased to flow from the wound, measures were taken to prevent air entering the circulatory system as the animal cooled, and in all the cases the respiratory apparatus was nicely adjusted to the capacity of the animal. If the lungs in any case had been ruptured or overstrained, haemorrhage would have subsequently ensued. The first dog operated upon is now in the possession of Mr George Woodside, No. 831 Champa street, and the calf is in the stock lot of Mr Boyd, west of the Platte, near the Thirtieth street bridge. Anyone having the curiosity to see animals that have once been dead, and afterwards scientifically restored to life, can do so by calling at these places."

Mr sends the following letter to the ' Scientific American : —" Please find enclosed herein a relation of my assistant, Mr J. L. Finch, in regard to some experiments instituted by myself in this city on revitalising dead animals. The account was published in the Denver ' News ' five days ago. It is proper for me to add to this account that since then I have successfully restored life to a dog that had been dead eighteen hours, his death having been effected by blood-letting. After he became unconscious he was treated similarly to the dog first mentioned in the article enclosed, except that the temperature of the room in which he lay was maintained at 40deg Fahr., to prevent any probable change of tissue taking place. This case was brought to a successful termination last night. The dog is doing well, has eaten some food to-day, but seems somewhat weak. TW results of these experiments appear most momentous to me, and I am desirous of having them repeated by others, and my own work corrohovated. I believe they will be of value to mankind, and in order to introduce them to more general attention 1 submit them for your consideration, or for such a publication of the faots as may seem proper. "G. A. Armitage. " Denver (Col.), January 22, 1885." —' Soientiflo American.'