The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. SATURDAY, SEPT. 14, 1007. WHEN IS LIFE EXTINCT?

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2185, 14 September 1907, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. SATURDAY, SEPT. 14, 1007. WHEN IS LIFE EXTINCT?

Alcdicul scienco has mado rapid strides in recent years, but according .to the “Technical World Magazine,” published in Chicago, wo shall shortly bo mado familiar with an indention that is capable of achieving what would commonly bo described »s miraculous results. According to tlio

“Technical World” a recent invention of Professor Georgo Poe, of South Norfolk, Virginia, has proved beyond all contravention oithor of two things ; that, as far as medical scienco has advanced, it is unable to say when animal lifo is extinct, or that it is possible, under some circumstances, to restore lifo when the subject appears to bo “dead.” Whichever may bo tlio case, tho fact is not altered that tho device mentioned has brought animation to animals, which were undoubtedly in that state described by science as death. As have so many of tho great discoveries of science, that of Professor Poo grew out of a moro or less accidental occurrence. In tho year 1876 Professor Poo succeeded in resuscitating a rat, which had been killed, by tho simple process of pumping oxygon into its lungs. With this success as a basis to work upon, ho was encouraged to continue investigations and experiments along tho same line, and these have resulted in the artificial respirator, the success of which (according to the “Technical World”) is one of tlio marvels of the age. The apparatus is modeled as nearly as may be after nature, its action being almost identical with that of the human lungs. The years of experimenting had proved to the .inventor that in order to revive persons drowned, suffocated, or whose death had been caused by anaesthetics, it was necessary to remove the poison gases in the lungs, replacing these gases with oxygen, and it was to accomplish this double purpose that liis present device was constructed. Many demonstrations have been given of tho apparatus before committees of physicians and scientists, and these gentlemen have been treated to the strange eight of animals being resuscitated after the same had been examined by them and declared dead to the best of their professional knowledge. Ono of the most striking tests was that of a rabbit which was subjected, by ono of the physicians of a committee, to an injection of two grains of morphine, and then given four ounces of ether. Every test 'known to science was then made, and tho rabbit declared dead, after which the tubes were applied to its nostrils, and tlio plungers operated. "Within three minutes tho rabbit was breathing in a natural manner, and in six minutes was running about the room. That the rabbit ovinced m signs of nausea proved conclusively that tlio other was entirely out of its system. Another subject was a dog which, for forty minutes had been smothered in acetylene gases. This dog was revived within a short period, and showed absolutely no effects from either the smothering or resuscitation.

If Professor Poo’s invention “makes good,” as the Americans say, the value to humanity of this simplo device can scarcely bo overestimated, as it places in tho hands of the physician an apparatus by which artificial respiration can be effectually and accurately maintained. It is claimed that in this way practically all danger of death froiy tho administration of too largo anaesthetic doses is eliminated as tho machino will sustain artificial respiration as long as may bo necessary.