THE CULTURE OF ORGANS [Signed]

New York, New York: Paul B. Hoeber, 1938. First Edition. Hardcover. Octavo, 221 pages. In Very Good minus condition, lacking dust jacket. Spine is black with gilt lettering. Boards are bound in black cloth protected by mylar, have mild rubbing wear along spine and extremities, and mild bumping and tearing to fore corners. Spine mildly cocked. Text block moderately age toned and dust burned along edges, has moderate soiling to front pastedown, previous owner’s inscription in black ink on half-title verso and moderate surface tearing and staining along head edge of title page verso. Contains signed bookplate by Alexis Carrel affixed with tape to front pastedown. Contains previous owner's purchase receipt. Shelved in Rm. A. American aviator Charles Lindbergh took a quiet interest in biology upon learning that his wife's older sister had developed a fatal heart condition. The doctor admitted that while surgery would theoretically be able to save her, there was not a way to keep the heart alive outside of the body for long enough. Figuring that a machine might be able to sustain an organ in vitro, Lindbergh formed a connection with French surgeon and biologist Alexis Carrel. Together, Carrel and Lindbergh replicated human anatomy to create a perfusion pump. This book chronicles their experiments in understanding perfusion mechanically, a historic catalyst to experimental surgery. 1394835. Special Collections. (Inventory #: 1394835)