120 Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine. 



84 (227) 



Transplantation of the thigh from one dog to another. 

 By Alexis carrel. 



[From the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research^ 



The first attempts at transplanting a limb from one animal to 

 another were made last year in the University of Chicago by 

 Guthrie and myself. No definite results were observed because of 

 infection or the breaking of the bone suture. 



Lately the transplantation of the thigh from one dog to another 

 was tried again with an improved technique. 



On April 23, 1907, at 9.50 a. m., a medium-sized dog was killed 

 with chloroform. At 10.20 a. m. the left thigh of the cadaver was 

 amputated just below its middle part, perfused with Locke's solu- 

 tion and placed on a table of the laboratory, the temperature 

 being 88-90 0 F. 



At 1 1 a. m., a medium-sized bitch was etherized, her left thigh 

 amputated and immediately replaced by the thigh of the dead dog. 

 The reconstruction of the thigh began by the suture of the bone, 

 the adductors and quadriceps. Then the femoral vessels were 

 united and the circulation re-established at 1 p. m. The opera- 

 tion was completed by the suture of the nerves, muscles, aponeu- 

 roses and skin, and the limb placed in a plaster of Paris apparatus. 



On April 23, 24 and 25 the animal remained in good condition 

 and walked on her three normal feet. The transplanted limb was 

 warmer than the normal one and its circulation very active. On 

 April 26, she appeared to be sick. There was a phlegmon of the 

 thigh. Incisions were made in Scarpa's triangle and on the trans- 

 planted limb, which was warm. Hemorrhage of red blood oc- 

 curred from the incisions in the transplanted limb. 



During the succeeding days, the circulation of the limb remained 

 active, the foot became swollen and the general condition of the 

 animal declined. On May 1, a large abscess was detected near 

 the pelvis and opened. A small incision having been made on the 

 foot of the transplanted limb, hemorrhage of red blood occurred. 

 The general condition of the animal was very low. On May 2, 

 the animal died of septicemia. 



Then, it was found that the lumen of the femoral vessels was 



