A method of chemically resecting the exocrine portion of the pancreas of a patient in need thereof comprising administering to the patient an amount of a hydroxy polyamine or a salt thereof with a pharmaceutically acceptable acid sufficient to resect the exocrine portion of the pancreas thereof, but insufficient to substantially alter the endocrine portion thereof. The hydroxy polyamine has a structure according to the formula: wherein: R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 may be the same or different and are alkyl having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or aryl or aralkyl having up to 12 carbon atoms; a, b, d and e may be the same or different and are integers from 1 to 4; and c is an integer from 2 to 6. A pharmaceutical composition in unit dosage form comprising the hydroxy polyamine or a salt thereof with a pharmaceutically acceptable acid for use in the method of the invention is also disclosed.