GOLD GUINEAS FOR FRESH BLOOD.

Taihape Daily Times, 20 February 1918, Page 6

GOLD GUINEAS FOR FRESH BLOOD.

INVALID’S CURIOUS OFFER,

SINGULAR STORY TOLD TO APPLICANTS.

“Would any healthy man living in London, willing to help a patient suffering fromsevere anaemia by giving some blood, communicate" with Mr. X The process hurts no more than a prick of the finger; the amount taken will not cause discomfort or any ill effect. A gift of five guineas is offered for each transfusion.” Theadvertisement appeared in a morning paper, the address given being that of a fashionable nursing home in the Harley Street quarter. Inquiries show that the case of Mr. X. has some extraordinary features. Men of all ages and classes and of various nationalities were calling at the nursing home all day to offer their blood in return for five guineas. Mr. X. —who was not in bed, but seated in a chair—proved to be a dark complexioned man . apparently between thirty-five and forty years of age, speaking with an- American accent and seeming delicate but not ill. He told the applicants a singular story. For some years past, according to this statement, he had only been kept alive by large transfusions of blood from healthy men who volunteered their services.

Over a gallon of new Blood was required by Mr. X each year, and this was furnished by eight or ten men only, one pint being taken from each man inorder to ens'ure the right characteristics. A “donor” of blood would be quite well and strong again in two days. After Mr. and Mrs. X. had explaied the situation and put certain questions, selected volunteers were asked to call again for the medical blood test.