BLOOD TRANSFUSION

Shannon News, 5 October 1926, Page 3

BLOOD TRANSFUSION

SOME NOTABLE RECORDS. WOMAN’S 186 OPERATIONS. The attention of the Parisian public was lately rawn to a worker at the . central markets, Raymond Briez, who has a great, record as a blood produce l for it appears that since November, 1924, he has given twenty-two litres, about 39 pints—of blood to save the lives of patients in a Paris hospital. He was visiting a sick friend in hospital when Dr. Becart, the surgeon in charge, compimented him on the fine colour of his cheeks and said ‘•I would like your address; for I shall want you.” Shortly afterwards the doctor asked M. Briez to give a quarter of a litre of his blood to a patient whose life probably depended on it. M. Briez did so and offered to repeat the operation as often as the" doctor deemed it necessary, So he submitted to blood transfusion four times in. 1924, 38 times in 1925, and 44' times in the present year. His eighty-seven experiences of transfusion, operation ha\ r e so accustomed him to the proceeding that he noiv,helps the doctor in- his preparations. Last year he was presented to the Surgeons’ Congress which met in Paris, and an American doctor offered him £SOO to migrate to the United States. M. Briez makes light of his repeated gifts of blood—“a prick in the arm, a bandage and a glass of Madeira, et voila!” —he says. He follows no special regime and declares that he has not suffered at all. in health by his genenosity. The publicity given ■to the case of M. Briez has brought to light a stilj more remarkable case, that; of Madame le Maire, the wife of a doctor* In two years she has undergone 186 blood transfusion operations for the benefit of exhausted invalids and now has the Satisfaction of knowing that many people owe their lives to her generosity. Her first gift of blood Was to Madame Colette, the wellknown novelist, who has declared that it not only restored her health but actually rejuvenated her. .

Shortly afterwards Madame le Maire ,gave blood to the octogenarian painter M. Guillaumin, who, though h e was believed to be dying when the operation was performed, has since written to thank his doctor for having given him back his brain and limbs, despite his 84 years. That gift was, made a year and a-half ago and the aged painter still enjoys its benefits in. health and vigour. Madame le Maire declares that she is amply rewarded for her geneiosity in seeing exhausted old men recover their strength and anaemic women who had lost all hope return to health, and vigorous life. Madame le Maire’s doctor husband has also a notable- record as a blood-giver, for he has submitted to transfusion oh the behalf of patients 100 times.