Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-01-05
Drinking Hot Blood.
HOW DEBILITATED PATIENTS TAKE
THEIR MATUTINAL DRAUGHTs
AT A NEW ORLEANS SLAU-
TER HOUSE.

1t is comparatively only Wltniu lue
last few years that the medical world
has recognized The vital properties oil
blood when taken by the mouth as
remedy against phthisis, or. as 1t Is
more commonly known, consumption.
When in France it was first proposed
to give blood as stimulant and nutrient
IN cases where the system had become
depleted rom the drain upon the sys-
tenn by tubercles on the lungs, the idea
met with great opposition, and ior a
time there were long discussions be
tween physicians in the leading medical
oazettes. But some remaI Ikable results
IN casos OF great debilitation, which
we're we'll authenticated, gained for this
treatment many friends, and change
was wrought even among those who
had been most bitter in scofiing at such
restorative. Now the abattoirs OF
Paris arc daily crowded with people
suffering from lung troublee-in fact,
from all pulmonary complaints. The
treatment was not long being introduc-
ed this side OF the water, aud in New
York it was arked with more success
than vas anticipated. 1t soon came in
use here. and several physicians have
prescribed the drinking of blood to their
pauents. with good results in number
of cases.
Besides blood, there is another RENE,
dy for consumption, called koumlsS'
which mas also attained 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 liabili-
ty to ferment and decompose, is not
susceptible of tran sportation ; but there
IS made an artificial article here which
Is said to contain all the chemical pro"
periies of that from Tartary. Many
physicians, however, prefer fresh beers
blood to the manufactured article.
Recently a 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 geuia. superintendent, Mr.. John
Dolhonde, he gave many details oil
blood drinking which few people OF our
city know of. He said that there are
now as daily drinkers some three or
four ladies end the same uumber oil
gentlemen. TheJ reach the slaughter
house by the cars from Canal street by
about noon. and stand near the slaush-
ter.pens, awaiting the killing OF on
animal. A beef is driven into the peu,
and the door is closed. 4 butcher alot
on n scafiodlng. armed with long
spear-headed pole, watches his oppor-
tuni,v. aud 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, wheh
a second butcher advances and, after
cuttisg down a portion Of the skin, sew
ers the arteries of the neck, aud II
crimson tide flows out. The ladies
have their large pint glasses ready, and
the butcher catches the blood flowing
in a pulsaling stream from the neck and
passes it out, when the patients drink
il down while still warm and before 1t
has time to coagulute. After the slight
feeling of disgust at the first draught
has passed away, the patients appar-
ently relish it and do not eyince the
least .igu of hesitancy in taking it. The
taste is a sweetish. salty one, not very
different from that of sweet milk, and is
lkened to that experienced when cut
finger is involuntar.ly put in ones
mouth to stop the pain. This taste
fingers in the mouth for considerable
time, but the blood.drinkers do not
complain Oft as being unpleasant.
Mr.. Dolhonde says that be has no.
li,ed several remarkable results from it.
One-a young lsdy-who, when she
first went down to the slaughter house,
looked exceedingly Ill and far gone
with consumption. lie could mention
ner name, but il would not be proper.
After some weeks trial drinking blood,
she began to improve aud to-day is
well aud hearty. He mentioned sew.
eral other cases where like good results
had come from it, but said some came
down there in the last stages OF con-
sum- %, when, of course, it was too
late TO do any good.
The ladies generally came to his
Office and be, 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 n
lady. exceedingly thin, with hectic
flush on either cheek, got out Of the
cars, and securing her glass, started
with ber escort down the walk leading
to the abattolr. A large milk-white
beef had just been driven In one OF the
pens, and overhead, with pole poised,
his executlouer stood waiting favora- =
BILE opportunity to strike. The blow
falls, the brute lies trembling on the
floor. and in moment the knife at bis
throat has opened the hood-gates OF bis
life-tide. The lady's glass was quickly
filed, and as quickly handed to her.
Without betraying the least emotion
Il ~ n l. rnE