Alexis Carrel. Visionary surgeon

W. STERLING EDWARDS and PETER D. EDWARDS, Alexis Carrel. Visionary surgeon, Springfield, Ill., Charles C Thomas, 1974, 8vo, pp. xi, 143, illus., $5.00. Alexis Carrel (1873-1944) was an outstanding French-born surgeon who spent most of his professional life at the Rockefeller Institute, New York City (1903-1939). He received a Nobel Prize in 1912 and his main contributions were to vascular surgery, the care of wounds, and to tissue culture. His particular claim to fame stems from the pioneer work he did in evolving techniques of arterial suture, blood vessel grafts, and organ transplantation. But as well as being a most gifted scientist whose experimental work was characterized by precision and care, Carrel believed in miracle cures after having observed what he believed to have been one at Lourdes in 1903. Later in life he became a mystic and evolved odd ideas and religious fervour. In World War II he was accused of having pro-fascist associations and he died in disgrace, accused of collaboration with the Germans, although this has never been proved. Dr. Edwards, a vascular surgeon, and his son present the first substantial biography of Carrel in English. It is well written and well documented and provides a useful source of information concerning a remarkable man.