The Washington herald., 1922-12-26
SCORES WORK
WAY THROUGH
! CITY COLLEGES
Investigation Is Started of
Alleged Attempt at Raising
of Prices by Professionals
CHARGE NOW IS SIS PINT
Physicians Say Movement Is
Similar to Recent Strike of
Donors in New York City

Investigation of alleged attempts
20 raise the price of blood yester-
day revealed that several students
are working their way through
schools here by selling their blood.
Although it was reported that 1000
blood sellers in Washington were
demanding increased compensation,
surgeons here said yesterday that
many persons. particularly women.
have offered their blood free.
The present price of blood for
TRANSMISSION is s25 a pint. A num-
Der of blood sellers here asked a
100 per cent increase in the price
of their blood.
NOT WORTH MORE.
Despite the fact that a man has
but approximately twenty pints of
blood in his veins. it is not worth
more than s25 a pint" stated DR..
J. p. Sehearer. surgeon of the Far
ragut apartments. as he looked over
his list of nearly 200 applicants.
The numerous requests for in
creased compensation is nothing
more than an effort to extract blood
money and will meet with the same
failure as the blood sellers did in
New York recently" stated DIR.
Oscar B. Hunter. of the George
Washington University Hospital.
He related details of the strike of
the so-called professional donors in
New York which was broken six
months ago. when nurses and citi-
sens organized and offered their
blood free.
"Often the necessity of a blood
TRANSMISSION is created on the spur OF
the moment and it is usually at such
times when the increase is request
ed Patients at such times. realizing
the danger. are willing 10 pay the
exhorbitant price" he declared.
YOUTHS EARN MONEY.
The number of Washington blood
sellers has increased with education
facilities. according to the physi-
clans. Robust youths coming 20 this
city to work their way through
school find they can obtain approx
mately 5000 a year by offering their
blood at the present price.
Although the waiting list consists
chiefly of college students, appli-
cants from all walks of life are
anxious to give their blood for the
IL
per cent of the applicants are wom-
en-. who are as eager as the men for
the money. according to physicians.
Most Of the professional donors.
Dr.. Hunter said. are willing to ac-
cept the present price. but the ten
dency towards the increase is con-
ptantly growing. Some wait until
they arrive at the bedside of the pa
tient before demanding more money,
he declared.
DIR. I.csler Neuman, pathologist
OF the Emergency Hospital. is well
supplied with applicants desiring TO
sell their blood. His present list of
approximately $50. is growing in
proportion to the increased number
Of students arriving here.
TWELVE PINTS POSSIBLE.
"The average man or woman Is
capable of giving approximately
twelve pints Of blood a year, al
though it is very unusual that any
one is called upon more than ten
times" he stated.
There is little competition In the
sale OF blood. II is stated. Blood
from all races is divided into four
biological types. The type of the
seller is matched with the type of
the patient. Sometimes disastrous
results follow when the types are
not similar. Applicants are called
In order as their names appear on
the lists.
Little secrecy exists among the
blood sellers. according to physi-
clans. Often one returns TO the
patient to whom the blood was
transfused to learn OF the effects
of the operation.
Transfusions are made by the di-
rect and the citrate methods. and
the former. by which the blood Is
run directly from the veins of the
seller to the patient. is declared the
most successful BY the latter
method. the blood is extracted from
the donor and by the application
OF chemicals can be held six hours
before being injected into the pa
tient