Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-10-22
Stop Killing
Yourself
By Dr.. Peter J. Steincrohn

year III lilc OIllcu OldlcS-
The procedure itself is sim
pie, but the preparations for
it and the implications for
its use are not so simple.
1 WON'T GO into the i'm
portance of proper selection
of the blood donors, methods
of tipping the blood, storing
it in blood banks, cross
matching it with the patient
and at last delivering the
precious cargo to the sick
patient. All l want to warn
about is that blood transfu-
sion should not be used as a
tonic-"just to build you up
a little"
Not too many years ago
and in too many patients
now, too-a patient with a
low hemaglobin or slight
drop in blood cells would be
brought into the hospital for
a TRANSMISSION for a fast
tonic" Now that we realize
the dangers of transmitting
hepatitis by TRANSMISSION, and
the possibilities of other re-
actions, we prefer the slow
tonic" of iron tablets over
a period of weeks or months.
/ recall a divisional meet
ing of the American College
of Physicians in Colorado
Springs about six years ago.
/ was there on a lecture tour,
and had dropped in just in
time to hear a paper read,
which l think was long over
due.
1t was on this subject: The
needleSsness and danger of
giving blood transfusions
unless there was a very
specific indication for their
use; for example, severe
hemorrhage, shock, etc.
The speaker emphasized
that in practically all cases
where only enc pint of blood
was used in treating a pa
tent, it was likely that it
hadn't been necessary at all.
Therefore, he advocated
caution in leaning on the
old bromide: "GueSs I'll give
you a pint of blood to build
you up"
In the intervening years,
| am glad to say, there have
been many more discussions
and papers written about
the same problem. l think
you can accept the fact that
most doctors have been
alerted to the dangers of
unnecessary blood transfu-
sions. Therefore, if you are
ever quite i'll and really need
blood, don't hesitate to take
this life-saving juice. How
ever, if any doctor still be-
ieves that "a pint of blood
is good for you as a tonic"
you should have a consulta-
ton to make sure you really
need it.
Dear DR.. Steincrohn: am
Sc years old and am Sched-
uled for a tonsillectomy. l
have had bad tonsils all my
life and my parents had
them clipped when l was a
child. Last winter they
were lanced about Is times
and those places stay full of
infection winter and sum-
mer. Am l taking a risk in
having them removed at my
age? How much time shall
l allow myself for recovery?
Mrs. D.
RATHER THAN possibly
subject yourself to many
more Landings" in the flu
ture, l think you show good
judgment in going in for the
T&A. Considering how long
you have had this infection
simmering in your system,
| think you are lucky in not
having come down with some
real complications like seri-
Gus ear disease, joint infec-
tons or heart disease.
In direct answer to your
questions, l do not believe
you are taking a risk in hav-
ing the operation. The
greater risk would be in not
having it.
(Bell-McClure SyndicateD
Tomorrow: Detective.
DR.. Steincrohn'S Ieatlet,
when to Suspect Your Gal
Bladder" tDill be mailed on
receipt of a stamped, self
addressed envelope and IS
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