The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1875-11-10
FASHIONABLE BLOOD.
DRINKERS.

HOW. NEW YORK LADIES VISIT THE sLAUGH-
TER HOUSES AND oUAFF BUMPERS OF
hot BLOOD.
I have read occasional scraps in
the press, and listened to converse
tions in private circles of remarkable
cures having been effected by means
of the TRANSMISSION of blood from
the veins Of healthy persons or ami
mails to those of patients dying from
consumption, or for the want of
the ife-giving fluid, but have
never paid any attention to it, and
left it for the doctors to cogitate up
on. Yet within a few days the
subject was presented to me in such
a form that l could. no longer ig-
more it. I was making an exandina-
ton of a number of the leading
slaughter houses of the city with
view of learning how nearly a
million and half of population are
fed on animal food, when l observ-
ed private carriages draw up on
Second avenue, in the neighbor-
hood Of East Forty seventh street,
and from them ladies alight whose
dress and manner too plainly assur-
ed me they were members of the
bon ton. Some of them were &C.
companied by delcately-formed
children, and others had gentlemen
escorts. "What can bring these
ladies into this district, filled with
rough and mcouth butchers and
fat-boilers?" I naturally asked my
self. I had not long to wonder, as
L followed a bevy Of beauties into
the slaughter-house of Henry Els
ner, corner Of Second avenue and
Forty-seventh street, and, hating
at the door, saw them extend lit
tie silver cups under the necks OF
the suspended animals, and filing
them with fresh, warm blood, drink
it with the avidity a hungry child
shows whena glass ofsmilk or cream
is given to it. AS the men cut the
throats of the believing beeves
these ladies, reared in the lap OF
luxury, would without any outward
sign Of fear, either collect the blood
themselves, or stand by while the
butchers did it for them. Some
drank of it but sparingly: while
others passed the cup for a second
draught. These were the blood
drinkers Of Gotham, of whom [ had
heard traditions but who, until then,
I had supposed existed only in the
imagination of the city Bohemian
who exercises his inventive genius
to earn a few dollars per week to
pay his washerwoman and keep soul
and body together. One thing struck
me as singular-that some fifteen
| persons who entered the slaughter
| houses in the half hour [ was
there only the females partook OF
the red draught. A few remain
ed in their carriages and had the
blood carried out in silver cups
or glasses from which they par
took. I ventured to ask one Ia
dy why she drank Of the blood,
when she replied: ''On the recon-
mendation of my physician. ! am
suffering from lung affection that
he reports is likely to result in con-
sumption, and he says this is the
only certainty of recovery-that I
must partake Of it freely" ':And
how long, madam, have you follow
ed this singular treatment" | ask
ed. "For nearly four months. At
first my stomach rebelled at the
sight and taste of it, and I could
only barely taste it, but l remem'
bered that we ate blood in our beef
steaks and roasts, and [ gradually
became resigned to it, until now l
can drink e quart. GLOW often
do you come here?" was the next
question. "Wel, not at any regu-
lar time. I usually come every
Friday, which is the principal day
for cattle killing. Others do not
drink the blood of cattle, but pre-
fer that of lambs" tAnd do you
find that your health is improving2"
20, yes, sir; rapidly. When l first
began the treatment I was very
much reduced; was pale, weak and
emaciated, so that it was with diff
Guilty 1 could get out to the carri-
age. 1 weighed but ninety-si1
pounds. Now, as you Will see,
I have considerable color in my face.
I feel quite strong, and I weigh one
hundred and fourteen pounds