EVALUATION OF SIX SOVIET MEDICAL BOOKS

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• Collection: General CIA Records
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• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 17, 2013
• Sequence Number: 9
• Publication Date: September 30, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

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CLASSIFICATION CONFIDENTIAL/SECURITY ThIPNRIALvianD kq()41/Fri
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
COUNTRY USSR
SUBJECT Evaluation of Six Soviet Medical Books
PLACE
ACQUIRED
DATE
ACQUIRED B`
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL 0 KKKKKK
OF THE UNITED STATES, WITHIN THE MEANINO OF TITLE IS, SECTIONS 793
AND 794, OF sml U.S. coot. AI AMENDED. ITS TRANSMISSION on NEVE.
LOTION OF ITO CONTENTS TO OR REEICIAT OV AN UNAUTHORIZED PINION IS
PROHIBITED IV LAT, THE REPRODUCTION CP THIS PORN IS PROMIIITIO,
DATE DISTR. 30 SEP 58
NO. OF PAGES 50X1
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO,
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THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
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I. PEP;ELIVANIIE KROVI edited by A A Beysdasarove. and, A V
Gulyayeva (Medgix Moscow, 1951, 583 pp)
II. OCHERK RAZVITIYA VYSSHEY NERVNOY DEXATELMSTI I REBEDKA
RANNEGO VOZRASTA by N I Kasatkin (Medgiz, Moscow,, 1951
96 PP)
II/. BOLEZNI PECHENI I ZHELCHNYKH PUTEY I DETEY by M S Maslov
(Medgiz, 1951, 164 pp)
IV. KLINICHESKAYA SIMPTOMATOLOGIYA OSTRYKH VNUTRENNIKH
ZABOLEVANIY by A N Kryukov (Medgiz, Moscow, 1952; 244 pp)
V. KLINICHEWYE ISSLEDOVANIYA by V M Kernig (Medgiz, 1951,
163 pages)
VI. LUCHSHIYE NAUCHNTYE RABOTY ASPIRANTOV (Medgiz, 1951, 266 pp)J
I, PERELIVANITE KROVI
1. This is a collective work written by many authors concerned with
all aspects of blood transfusion. Most of the authors are unknown
to me and I believe that probably most of them are younger people
who started their careers either just before or just after World
War II.
2. The first chapter is devoted to a history of blood transfusion.
It discusses mostly the works of old Russian and later Soviet
scientists in the field but names of foreign authors like Landstein,
Janski and Moss are also quoted.
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3. The second chapter deals with blood transfusion organization in the USSR
and especially the activities of the Central Institute of Hematology and
Blood Transfusion in Moscow. Nothing particularly outstanding is
discussed.
4. The third chapter deals with questions of isoserology: blood types,
agglutination etc. It is a good description of the contemporary
level of knowledge in this field. I was interested in this connection
to notice that the most recent great achievement in this field, namely
the role of the rhesus factor, is discussed in detail. US publications
of 1946-1947 are quoted. The last part of the chapter deals with
practical matters such as the preparation of standard serums, the examination
of blood types in patients and compatability tests. These are discussed
very thoroughly and it appears to me that the methods,used in USSR do not
differ from those of other countries.
5. The fourth chapter deals with the organization of blood donors and con-
tains the only piece of propaganda in the book which is a statement that
the blood donor-situation-in:the US and the UK is merely a� method of
exploiting the poor oppressed workers.. This point is,however.not
belabored and' is stated'in'only two or three Sentences.' The balance of
the chapter discusses the qualifications for donorship and desoribes in
detail the health standard6 to be met by such donors, i e what diseases
disqualify them etc. '1 found nothing unusual.
6. The fifth ,chapter is 0-discussion of various methods and techniques of
blood. transfusion. I was somewhat surprised on reading this chapter to
see that a great deal of space is devoted to a discussion of the different
methods of direct transfusion. I believe that this method is considered
obsolete nA7677.in the US but in every other country including USSR.
I recall indidentally seeing direct transfusion used only once in the
USSR, even as long ago as the 19301s. Naturally enough;more attention
is given to methods of indirect transfusion. In this connection the
chapter first discuises blood stabilizers, including citrates, magnesium
sulfate,. salicylates, heparin and synthetic anti-thrombin (sinartrin).
Sinartrin may possibly be the same as the US dicumerol. Following this
discussion the chapter furnishes a detailed description of the vessels
used for the collection of blood* I believe that comparable vessels
in the US are much more advanced than those described which are some-
what primitive.' Although standard blood transfusion techniques which are
similar to those in the US are described, a number of special techniques
are also discussed* For example, on page 134 the technique of arterial
transfusion is' discussed and a drawing illustrating its apparatus is
supplied. Also furnished are descriptions of other special techniques
such as. intra-!cardial blood, transfusion and transfusion using the inferior
concha ot the nose. The latter technique was new to me but the author of
this chapter says that drugs may also be administered in this way. Intra-
pleural and intra-peritoneal transfusions are described but in the opinion
of'the author these to techniques are not advisable. Transfusion through
the bone.marrow.of the sterngm�, the iliac bone and the tarsus is described
but this techniqUe; at least as far as the iliac bone is Concerne4 is,
I-believe4 used in the US. I was vfn.y interested to see that the. Soviets
are apparently using a Method oi venous transfusion utilizing massive
amounts ofblood (500 - 1,000 cc) transfused in a very short time, in
addition to' the conventional methods in use in the US which transfuse
perhaps 500 cc drop by drop over., one to, two hours. Finally the chapter
mentions methods of transfusing defibrinated blood but this is tegarded
only as a substitute method.
7. Chapter six is on blood preservation and this question ilt-discussed
thoroughly from both the theoretical and the practical points of view.
Such factors as blood count, the osmotic fragility of red cells, bio-
chemical characteristics and bacteriological findings are all discussed
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in a way that is perfectly acceptable by US standards. On page 189 the
author furnishes a list of various carbohydrate-free solutions which
permit the preservation of blood for ten to fifteen days. On.ipage 191
is furnished a citrate/glucose formula which preserves blood for 18 to
25 days and page 192 describes a glucose/heparin formula which is less
useful as it preserves blood for only 15 days. The next two pages
describe various modifications of this glucose citrate solution. The
actual physical technique of blood preservation is discussed very
thoroughly and many drawings are supplied. The chapter describes the
technique rather like a manufacturing operation under aseptic conditions.
It even considers such details as how to label blood containers and
how to transport blood in special isothermic boxes. In the latter part
of the chapter the question of the transfusion of placental blood is
discussed. On page 245 the statement is made that up to 1941, ten
thousand transfusions of this kind had been performed in the USSR. The
method of collecting placental blood is also described. Finally in
this chapter the question of transfusion of_blOcid,from'cadavers is
discussed. Apparently this method is notpoptilar in the USSR but
nevertheless, according to the author, it has been used in five thousand
cases.
8. Chapter seven deals with blood substitutes and fractions and the author
describes the transfusion of plasma, serum and erythrocytes in mass.
Special equipment described includes a Seitz filtor, Rosenberg apparatus
for the defibrination of plasma, and similar apparatus of Rutberg. The
use of dried serum and plasma is discussed but only as al experimental
problem and apparently .this technique has not been perfected in the
USSR.' The 'second part of the chapter deaIS:With artificial subStitutes
andomentions,, in addition' to such wellrknOWn substitutes as the Ringer-
Locke solution, a number of Soviet formulas of this kind. Also furnished
are a-number of formulas of so-called anti-shock solutions such as sero-
tranagusin. These I believe are similar to some used in Germany,.
although the names of course are different.
9. Chapter eight discusses briefly factors which should be considered before
accepting blood donors. These factors include such things as acute
allergic reactions, vascular thrombosis or 'acute embolic states,
acute hepatitis and acute ftephriti5 . The conditions described, however,
are the same as those many country.
10. Chapter nine discusses. at great length the therapeutic effect of blood
transfusions but I did not find anything particularly new presented.
It is a very good description of the effects of transfusions which I
believe could have been written by any specialist in this field in any
country,. I should perhaps mention that the chapter does state that the
transfUsion of only a small quantity (25 to 50cc) of incompatible blood
Serves to stimulate the body. This idea i: however, treated very
cautiously. It is, of course, one of the theories of Bogomolets although
he is not mentioned byname.
11.. Chapter ten discusses complications observed in blood transfusions,.
their prevention and treatment. This is merely a routine debeription
of this subject,
12. Generally speaking, I found this book to be an excellent treatment of
the subject which could have been written in any country. It is
designed for physicians and senior. students. It is interesting that with
the one exception mentioned above, no Political propaganda was contained
in the book. In line with Soviet custom few statistics are furnished
and none dating after World War II. I have the impression that the
Sovietsuse blood transfusions before and after operations less than is
customary. in the US. This may, however,, be due more to a smaller supply
of available blood than to a differenceim medical opinion as regards
the effectiveness of blood transfusion.
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II. OCHERK RAZVITIYA VYSSREY NERVNOY DEINIELINOSTI I REBENKA RANNEGO VOZRASTA
13. This is an essay on the development of central nervous activity in infants
and bdbles, Although it is poorly edited) the book impressed Me-Very'
favorably. The author makes no political statements but furnishes a
very valuable study on Soviet investigations in the field. As might be
expected, investigative methods proposed by Pavlov receive particular
emphasis in the book.. I was soMewhat surprised, however) to see that
the author gives considerable attention also to the works Of Bechterev,
who died in '1925 This scientist and his school were definitely not
in favor witkthe Soviet authorities in the 19204s. In spite of this,
however, :the author furnishes a description of his ideas 'on the ontological
aspects Of research. The author appears to be very familiar with the
latest methods of encephalography and also has .,t1tea the' experimental
procedure called chronaxia.. It would take me too long to summarize the
entire book because of the wealth of detail it contains. I should
mention, however, that it furnishes many interesting postulates without
being dogmatic. As a book of science it is very valuable and if trans-
lated into English would lain sure find many readerp.
(5 ,
III. BOLEZNI PECHENI I ZHELCHNYKH PUTEY I DETEY
14. This booklet is a discussion of liver and bile duct'Aiseaies in children.
I had previously heard of the author who was a very prominent.
pediatrician in St Petersburg when I was a young man. He was well
known not so much as a practitioner but as a theoretician doing research
on the physiology and pathology of children.
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I recall being deeply
impressed not only with his ideas and methods of approach in his own
scientific field but also by his general erudition. He was familiar
with all the literature from all countries and I remember he quoted
Indian, South and authors from other 'out-of-the-way places.
MaslOv is now in his late Wis.
This booklethwhich is one of a series of handbooks for the medical
practitioner covering all branches of medicine, is a very good treat-
ment of the subject but quotes only Soviet contributions to the field*
This surprised me because of Mealovit familiarity with the work of so 50X1
many non-Soviet scientists. His failure to mention foreign scientists
was of course probably due to his somewhat uncertain political position.
I noted also that he attacks US experiments on virus hepatitis because
it involved human volunteer subjects, in spite of the fact that
he has used human experimental subjects a great many times
during his scientific career. In the book he puts considerable emphasis
on 'the biochemical characteristics of various diseases in this field and
describes many unusual methods of examination which are very valuable.
I should mention, however0'that he does not, mention two simple and
effective tests of liver function used in the US and these are probably,
therefore,. not used in the USSR. These are cephalini flocculation and
thymol turbidity. Other common tests in this general field, however,
are described in full, I was alio interested to see that US,methOds
for the treatment of cirrhosis of the liver i.e. with drugs and'high
protein diet) are not reflected in this book. Generally speaking,
however, this is a good competent treatment of the subject. It could
probably best be described as a popular book for mediCal practitioners,
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IV. KLINICHESKAYA SIMPTOMATOLOGIYA OSTRYKH VNUTRENNIKH ZABOLEVANIY
16. Kryukov is an old professor who is now about in hipo70's
who specialized, in hematology. Profess ona y would describe him
as a star of the second or third degree. I recall that he was in disfavor
in the 1920s or 1930s ard could not practice in Moscow or Leningrad
and had to go to Tashkent. This book has no bibliography and. does not
cite the works of any other authors. It reflects .only the clinical .
experience of the author. It is, nevertheless, a valuable contribution
and could have been written even in the US* Its subject is the
cliniealepymptomatology of acute disorders of the internal organs and
describes the causes of such things as bleeding, pains, dyspneal,
comatose states, vomiting, diarrhea ete. The author triesoto base his
conclusions solely orrclinical observations at the bed of the patient.
This:book, it seems to me, ig very valuable since contemporary,clinicians
are to a certain point spoiled. by the advances of modern medicine having
as they deoevery kind of mechanical device to assistithem,in their -
diagnoses and many have lost the art of clinical observation.
V. KLINICHESKIYE ISSLEDOVANIYA
17. Following World War II, the Communists initiated in the USSR a program
for publishing the works of prominent Russian physicians of the past.
This was probably a good idea since many of the pre-revolution Russian
medical people made significant contributions. Undoubtedly, however,
the reason for the establishment of this program was its propaganda
value, 4nd It was probably designed to build up the self-confidence of
Soviet physicians. This book, is one of this series* Since Kernig, the
author, died before the October Revolution; this particular book is
probably only of historical interest. Kernig's best-known contribution
was in the study of meningitis and "Kernig's sign" is still in common
usage as an indication of meningitis. Kernig was an ardent opponent
of Bolshevism*
VI. LUCHSHIYE NAME:NM RABCYTY ASPIRANTOV
18. The title of this book means the best scientific works of the aspirants.
In order to understand the significance of this title it is necessary
also to understand the Soviet system of medical education. Anyone may
become a "physician" after five years on a medical faculty, one year
of internship and after passing state examinations, if his work during
this period has been well done* Anyone, however, who wishes to become
a leading staff physician or a teacher, of medicine must obtain one of
two additional scientific degrees: candidate of medicine or doctor of
medicine. Theoretically no one can be a professor of medicine with-
out the doctor's degree. "Aspirants" are those attempting to obtain
these degrees. They receive grants for three years of study and are
required to write an original-thesis. If this work is accepted they
then become "candidates of medicine". This book contains 13 such theses
prepared by asrlirants in the University of Moscow aild are considered to
be the best theses prepared during a certain period presumably one
year. With the exception of only.twol'all are good contributions and
well donee They concern themselves, however, only with very, very
specific problems such as "nerves of the gastric arteries", "innervation
of the, pulmonary blood vessels", Allergines" etc. It would.be impossible
for me to describe them all and I do not think it would serve any useful
purpose. None of the theses have any immediate practical importance.
I should mention that the worst theses are the last two in the book which
are concerned with legal medicine or more particularly legal psychiatry.
Their titles are as follows: (a) Changes of Mental Status in
Arteriosclehmds .1nd their Legal Psychiatric evaluation; (b) Epileptic
dementia. both of these are quite bad and we obviously written by
Communists.
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