IIarch 20, 1908] 



SCIENCE 



473 



chamber, be employed for a continued blast in 

 blowpipe analysis. 



A very satisfactory test was obtained by 

 attaching the rubber tube of a medium-sized 

 bulb immediately to the blowpipe and using 

 the muscular contraction of the hand instead 

 of the cheeks — much to the relief of the latter. 

 The strength of the blast was surprising. A 

 strong oxidizing flame of about two inches 

 could be secured easily and with a small 

 amount of gas-supply and one filling of the 

 bulb, a steady flame was given for more than 

 a half-minute. A larger size foot-apparatus 

 proved much more powerful. The only diffi- 

 culty was that it was not easy to make a small 

 reducing flame. For handy and continuous 

 work with difficultly reducible minerals — 

 shortening many processes very much — and in 

 giving the instructor an opportunity to teach 

 during his personal blowpipe instruction, it 

 has considerable practical value, besides doing 

 away with the necessity of bringing the lips 

 into contact with the blowpipe. 



Charles W. Brown 

 Geologicai, Laboeatoet, 



Brown Univeesitt 



SPECIAL ARTICLES 



TRANSPLANTATION OF FORMALDEHYDE-FIXED 

 BLOOD VESSELS 



It has been demonstrated that segments of 

 blood vessels may be transplanted successfully 

 from one species of animal into another, e. g., 

 cat or rabbit into dog.^ Consideration of 

 these results led me to transplant segments 

 of blood vessels that had been preserved in 

 some fixing solution.^ 



In the case here reported abdominal vena 

 cava of dog preserved in 2.5 per cent, formalin 

 (in 0.9 per cent. NaCl) for 60 days was used. 

 The day before the operation the segment, 

 which was about 0.75 cm. long and 0.5 cm. 

 in diameter, was removed from the formalin 



^ Carrel, Journal of Experimental Medicine, IX., 

 p. 226, 1907;' Guthrie, American Journal of Phys- 

 iology, XIX., p. 482, 1907; Guthrie, Proceedings 

 American Physiological Society, 1907. 



' Guthrie, American Journal of Physiology, 

 XIX., p. 486, 1907. 



solution, washed in dilute ammonia, dehy- 

 drated in absolute alcohol and impregnated 

 with paraffine oil. It was interposed between 

 and sutured to the cut ends of the right com- 

 mftu carotid artery of a medium-sized bitch. 

 The diameter of the artery was considerably 

 less than that of the venous segment. 



The animal made a rapid and uneventful 

 recovery, the wound healing promptly. Clin- 

 ical examination 22 days after the operation 

 revealed a strong pulsation on the course of 

 the artery at the site of the transplanted seg- 

 ment. The following day the neck was opened 

 and the vessel directly examined. The segment 

 was found to be about 1.5 cm. long and .75 cm. 

 in diameter. It pulsated strongly and the 

 circulation through it was excellent. The 

 walls appeared to be slightly thickened but 

 pliable. In appearance it resembled similar 

 segments transplanted immediately after re- 

 moval. The wound was closed and the animal 

 returned to its cage. No histological studies 

 have as yet been made, but material is being 

 accumulated for that purpose. 



Conclusion. — A segment of dog's abdominal 

 vena cava preserved in formaldehyde for two 

 months and then interposed between the ends 

 of a dog's carotid artery may adequately serve 

 the mechanical function of an artery for more 

 than three weeks. 



C. C. Guthrie 



Physiological Laboeatoey, 

 Washington University, 

 St. Loms, Mo. 



A drought-resistant hickory 

 While investigating the distribution of the 

 hickories in western Arkansas, in behalf of 

 the federal forest service, the writer recently 

 had occasion to note ihe drought-resistant 

 quality of a little-known member of the genus 

 — a variety probably most closely related to 

 Hicoria glabra var. odorata Sarg.^ This form 



' The form occurring in Arkansas does not seem 

 to conform closely either to fl". glabra var. odor- 

 ata Sarg. or to E. villosa Ashe. The writer, how- 

 ever, strongly disapproves of the publication of 

 any new species, or even varieties in this genus, 

 until the limits of present accepted forms be more 

 accurately established. 



