Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-11-11
DRINKING HOT BLOOD.
How DebIIitated Patients Take Their
Mutatinnl Draughts at n New Orleans
Slaughter-House.

IL lb comparatively only WIthih bhe
last few years that the medical world
has recognized the vital properties of
blood when taken by the mouth as a
remedy against phthisis, or, as it is
more commonly known, consumption.
When in France it was first proposed TO
give blood as q stimulant and nutrient
in cases where the system had become
depleted from the drain upon the sys.
tenn by tubercles on the lungs, the idea
met with great opposition, and for Il
time there were long discussions be-
tween physicians in the leading medical
gazettes. But some remarkable results
in cases of great debilitation, which
were well authenticated, gained for this
treatment many friends, and a change
was wrought even among those who
had been most bitter in scofiing at such
a restorative. Now the abattoirs OF
Paris are daily crowded with people
suffering from lung troubles-in fact,
from all pulmonary complaints. The
treatment was not long being intro
DIT ced this side of the water. and in
New York it was marked with more
sue less than was anticipated. 1t soon
came in use here, and several physicians
have prescribed the drinku., Nfblood TO
their patients, with goo res It's in 4
number of cases.
Besides blood, their is another remedy
for consumption, called koumiss, which
has also attained a high rank, and
which is now being freely used through
out the country.
Koumiss is made by the Cossacks in
the steppes of Tartary, from the milk of
the mare, which, owing TO its liability
to ferment and decompose, is not sus-
ceptible OF transportation but there is
made an artificial article here which is
said TO contain all the chemical prop
critics of that from Tart airy. Many ply
sicians, however, prefer fresh beefs
blood to the manufactured article.
Recently n reporter OF the Democrat
visited the Crescent City slaughter
house below the barracks, for the pur
pose of witnessing some patients take
their daily drafts of gore, and his visit
was not without recompense. Meeting
the genial superintendent. Mc. John
Dolhonde, he gave many details OF
blood drinking which few people of cur
city know of. lie said that there are
now as daily drinkers some three or
four ladies and the same number of
gentlemen. They reach the slaughter
house by the cars from Canal street by
about noon, ,and stand near the slaughter
pens, awaiting the killing of an animal.
A beef is driven into the pen, and the
door is closed. 4 butcher aloft on a
scaffolding, armed with q long spear
headed pole, watches his opportunity,
and with sudden thrust drives the
steel point deep into the base OF the
steers brain. The animal, paralyzed
by the blow, drops to the floor, when
a second butcher advances and, after
cutting Dc wu a portion of the skin,
sewers the art ries of the neck, and n
crimson tide lows out. The ladies have
their large pint glasses ready, and the
butcher catches the blood flowing in a
pulsatng stream from the neck and
passes it out, when the patients drink it
down while still warm and before ii has
time TO coagulate. After the slight
feelirk of disgust at the firsts draught
has passed away. the patients appeI
emily relish it and do not evince ,he
least sign of hesitancy in7taking it. The
taste is a sweetish, salty one. not very
different from that OF sweet milk, and is
likened to that experienced when a cut
finger is involuntarily put in ones
mouth to stop the pain. This taste
fingers in the mouth for a considerable
time, but the blood-drinkers do not
complain of it as being unpleasant.
Mr.. Dolkonde says that he has noticed
several remarkable results from IL. One
"A young lady-who, when she first
went down to the slau"hter house,
looked exceedingly III tnd far gone
with consumption. l., could mention
her name. but it would not be proper.
After some weeks trial drinking blood.
she began to improve and to-day Is we'll
and hearty. He mentioned several
other cases where like good results had
come from 1t. but said some came down
there in the last stages of consumption,
when, of course. it was too late to do
any good.
The ladies generally came to his Office
ard he, with pleasure. escorted them to
the pens about killing time, which Is
after twelve o'clock.
The reporter then waited for some of
the drinkers to appear. and presently a
lady, exceedingly thin, with a hectic
flush on either cheek, got out of the cars,
and securing her glass, started with her
escort down the walk leading to the
absttoir. A large milk white beef had
just been driven in one of the pens, and
overhead, with pole poised, his execu-
toner stood waiting favorable oppor-