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[REGENERATIVE MEDICINE IN THE EARLY SSSR] «Omolozhenie» v Rossii [i.e. «Rejuvenation» in Russia]

Item #2057

Leningrad: Meditsina, 1924. 144 pp.: ill. 23,5x16 cm. In original printed wrappers. Spine mostly lost and fastened with staple, covers chipped and slightly soiled, pale water stains on lower edge of copy, otherwise very good internally.

First and only edition. One of 3000 copies.

An early Soviet collection of 6 articles, as well as bibliography, dedicated to popular and scandalous surgeries rejuvenating organisms. Such surgeries inspired Mikhail Bulgakov to compose ‘The Heart of a Dog’ (1925). Among the authors are A. Nemilov, V. Gorash, L. Voskresensky, S. Eiber, S. Ligin, L. Vasilevsky and I. Shmyrov. According to a short editorial, the works cover the topic in theory, laboratorical research and practice. The editor supported rehabilitating influence of such operations and was inspired by the application of it in farming.
The book opens with ‘Physiological Basis of “Rejuvenation”’ written by histologist Anton Nemilov (1879-1942) primarily known for his works on the histophysiology of the mammary glands, reproductive organs and the nervous system. Nemilov was criticized for Freudian ideas and “an overestimation of the role of hormones as hidden springs of the body”. In this article the scientist explains the importance of gonads for processes of the whole organism, their differences depending on gender and their influence when transplanted into another organism. He elaborates on contemporary methods rejuvenating human organisms: Brown-Séquard’s subcutaneous injection of extracts of animal testis; 2) Steinach’s vasectomy; 3) testicular transplant; 4) dosed X-ray irradiation of the gonads. Nemilov performed Steinach method operations on dogs and published several records from the protocols.
‘Practice of “Rejuvenation” Surgery and Its Rationale’ was written by Vladimir Gorash (1878-1942). He studied under the father of Russian urology S. Fedorov and then he was a military surgeon during the Russo-Japanese War and the First World War. Gorash researched kidney damage, diagnosed urological diseases, dealt with surgical treatment of nephroptosis, etc. He was one of the first in Russia to use resection for kidney stones. Gorash writes about spermatogenesis, changes in the gonad due to diseases, also about hormones, castration, the functions of all endocrine glands, the interaction of the gonads with others. He made experiments with testicular transplantation, resection of vas deferens. He publishes his recommendations for surgeries and a table systematizing 50 cases of his patients presenting in their age, social status, results, etc. He added a valuable table of Russian and foreign cases of rejuvenation. In all, 193 cases of endocrine-stimulating operations on the seminal tract, vasectomy and testicular transplantation were recorded by him in Russia by 1924. Of them, 158 cases haven’t been announced in the press before the article publication.

One of the scientists mentioned, Leonid Voskresensky is the author of the third article in the collection: “Experiments and Observations During Rejuvenation of People and Large
Livestock”. After graduation from Kazan University, Voskresensky became a student of physiologist Ivan Pavlov and then was appointed professor of physiology at the Tver Pedagogical Institute. In this collection, Voskresensky elaborates on his experience in endocrine-stimulating operations: transplants of underdeveloped testicles and vasectomy procedures to men, transplants testicles into the muscles of horses. Voskresensky collaborated with a state stud farm in Tver that provided him with the patients. He was one of the most active Russian surgeons operating on the gonads. Leningrad scientist Gorash made 50 recorded surgeries in his own table surpassing Tver resident Voskresensky by little. Bulgakov scholars have often expressed the opinion that professor Voskresensky more than others could be the prototype of the doctor Preobrazhensky in the Heart of the Dog.
In 1925, Voskresensky released a full-length silent film “Who Needs to Be Rejuvenated” (most likely, lost). Accompanied by lectures on rejuvenation and a newspaper interview with its creator, the film completed a triumphant tour throughout the country and remained in the repertoire of Soviet theaters until the 1930s. In the mid–1920s, Voskresensky made experiments in the Institute for the Study of Higher Nervous Activity associated with attempts of Soviet party leaders to gain immortality. In 1928, Voskresensky was appointed director of the Institute of Experimental Pathology and Therapy based on the Sukhumi Monkey Nursery. The nursery was created primarily due to the need to have materials (e.g. monkey glands) for transplantation into people, including for rejuvenation. In 1931, Voskresensky disappeared without a trace. Soon all “rejuvenation” surgeries were stopped.
The bibliography lists 155 foreign and Russian sources. The back cover features an early Soviet advertisement of the publishing house ‘Meditsina’ [Medicine].

No copies found in Worldcat.

Price: $1,500.00

Status: On Hold