Subject: Administering “polygal” after amputation of the thigh of
a 40-year-old male patient.
To: Stabsarzt Dr. Rascher
Dachau
On 10 December 1943 the effectiveness of “polygal” in the case of the
amputation of the thigh was tested. The drug was administered per os 45
minutes before the operation and was placed in the patient’s mouth to be
dissolved. A blood transfusion of 500 cc. had been made the previous day
in preparation for the operation. Blood pressure on the day of the
operation was 180/80.
As regards the effectiveness of “polygal” one can say that it was
absolutely evident how little the tissues bled. After the first rush of
blood from the vessels which had been cut, when completely emptied of
blood no more bleeding occurred after this first flow of accumulated
blood, so that it was not necessary to apply any ligatures to the
surface of the muscles and the fatty tissues, or the subcutaneous
tissues, as had always been the case with other amputations. The
effectiveness of “polygal” must in this case be described as complete.
By order:
[Signed] DR. KAHR
SS Obersturmfuehrer
The First Camp Physician, Concentration Camp Dachau
* * * * *
_Copy_
Concentration Camp Dachau
The Camp Physician
Dachau 16 December 1943
To: SS Hauptsturmfuehrer Dr. Rascher
Dachau
“Polygal 10” was used for 2 herniotomies. The patients were men of 35
and 42 years of age, respectively. In both cases the tablets were
administered to the patients 40 minutes before the operation. Blood
pressure before the operation was 135/80 in the case of the 35-year-old
patient and 145/80 in the case of the 42-year-old patient. Both patients
tolerated “polygal 10” without complaint, nor were there any unpleasant
accompanying symptoms in the stomach.
It is to be said of the operation itself that the loss of blood was
conspicuously slight in both cases. As in the case of all preceding
operations where “polygal 10” had been administered, it was only
necessary in this case, to cut off the bleeding from the vessels. In the
first case, that of the 35-year-old patient, stronger bleeding from the
subcutaneous tissues occurred after the skin had been cut, which,
however, was stopped by mere wiping, so that in this case the
application of clips to the subcutaneous tissues was unnecessary. Only
after cutting the cremaster was it necessary to apply some ligatures,
because then some smaller vessels were pierced. During the further
course of the operation, i. e., the separation of the hernial sac from
the funiculus spermaticus (it was an indirect inguinal hernia), several
spots bled in the beginning, but bleeding came to a standstill at once
and the use of ligatures was superfluous.
The same observations were made in the second case, the case of the
42-year-old patient. Hemostasis by application of ligatures was
necessary in only a few spots, and this was always in those places where
vessels had been injured during the operation. The favorable effect of
“polygal 10” in surgical operations consists not only in its causing
slight bleeding and preventing great loss of blood, but also in that it
makes possible considerably faster operations, because the applications
of clips and later ligatures always takes up a certain time, which can
be saved by the use of “polygal 10.”
[Signed] DR. KAHR
SS Obersturmfuehrer
EXTRACTS FROM THE TESTIMONY OF DEFENDANT SIEVERS[79]
_DIRECT EXAMINATION_
* * * * *
DR. WEISGERBER: The prosecution has submitted a single Document,
NO-1424, Prosecution Exhibit 462. This is an affidavit of Dr. Fritz
Friedrich Karl Rascher, who is an uncle of Dr. Rascher. It becomes
evident from this document that Rascher was carrying out fatal
experiments on human beings in connection with the development of
polygal. Did you know about that at any time?
DEFENDANT SIEVERS: No, I heard nothing about it. After Rascher’s arrest,
however, in 1944, the Police President of Munich, von Eberstein, gave me
a rather excited description of this criminal Rascher. He said that
Rascher had even shot at a human being in order to test his coagulating
drug. A confirmation of this statement could not be obtained at that
time. I didn’t believe it at first because so many rumors were flying
around about him and his wife after his arrest—one of them was that he
removed his collaborator Muschler by murdering her. Rascher,
incidentally, succeeded in clearing himself of this suspicion of murder.
After everything has become known through this trial—everything that
Rascher has on his conscience—I am rather inclined to believe it. Uncle
Rascher’s statements also reveal how secret Rascher kept his misdeeds.
Only by interfering with his nephew’s desk did Uncle Rascher gain
knowledge of whatever he is testifying here. At the same time, he
confirms in his statement that his nephew was furious when he found out
about his interference.
Q. Concluding these questions, I put to you Pohl’s affidavit which is
Document NO-065, Prosecution Exhibit 221. I quote (this is on top of
page 3): “Sievers told me the following: Ahnenerbe, of which Sievers was
manager, was developing a drug in Dachau, by order of Himmler, which had
as its result the quick coagulation of blood. He said that it was very
important for fighting units because it prevented their bleeding to
death. The experiments in Dachau, during which one inmate was shot at,
have proved these results.” Did you tell Pohl anything to that effect?
* * * * *
A. I told Pohl exactly what I had found out from Eberstein. As I already
said, the development stage of polygal was already concluded when he
received Himmler’s order to take care of the production. If Rascher shot
at an inmate in connection with polygal research then this, at any rate,
occurred at a time when he had nothing to do with that matter. I only
heard of this alleged shooting after Rascher’s arrest, as I have already
testified.
Q. Mr. President, in this connection I offer Document Sievers 10 as
Sievers Exhibit 8. I beg your pardon, Sievers Exhibit 9. This is an
affidavit of Oswald Pohl. The essential points to be found on page one
of this document are, and I quote:
“1. My affidavit of 23 July 1946 concerning medical experiments
was submitted to me with reference to my statements in paragraph
4, Sievers (Ahnenerbe).
“2. Sievers’ diary of 1944 (_3546-PS_) was submitted to me with
reference to the entry of 15 June 1944, 9 o’clock (page 167):
“SS Obergruppenfuehrer Pohl.
“1. Production of polygal and settlement Felix.”
Paragraphs two to six are not interesting here and I shall skip them. I
quote again:
“After having read this entry in the diary, I can remember
Sievers’ visit very well and I can state according to the best
of my knowledge and conscience:
“When all the relevant points concerning the possibility of
producing (installation for manufacture) the blood-stanching
remedy ‘polygal’, as well as the other items had been discussed,
Sievers told me a few things about the Rascher case before I
called in SS Standartenfuehrer Maurer to discuss the employment
of scientist prisoners in mathematical calculating problems. He
informed me that Rascher and his wife had been arrested for
jointly committing child substitution and abduction. Through
Rascher’s arrest, several unbelievable things had apparently
come to light which were now being investigated. It was also
maintained that Rascher was supposed to have fired at a prisoner
in order to test the ‘polygal’. Sievers therefore expresses an
assumption which he himself had only heard, and not a fact based
on his own knowledge.”
And then follows the certification.
* * * * *
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[77] United States _vs._ Erhard Milch. See Vol. II.
[78] Neff was called as witness by the Tribunal.
[79] Complete testimony is recorded in mimeographed transcript, 9, 10,
11, 14 Apr 1947, pp. 5656-5869.