TRANSFUSION OF BLOOD

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 258, 24 October 1908, Page 4

TRANSFUSION OF BLOOD

CHANGE IX WOMAN ASTOUNDS MKDICAL MEN. TKAXttR'.StOX Ol- 1 BUK)i) IS MAKING A HKRCULKS (.)!' iIKK.

New York, August 27. A pint of her husband's blood infused into the veins of Mrs. Anna Bradley following an operation at St. -lames' Hospital, Newark. U slowly but surely working a change in the woman that has astonished tlie physician*. ai the institution, and may refill jji a transformation that will cause a revolution in medieal science.

Mrs. Bradley is rapidly turning into a man. A few weeks ago *he was the most feminine of women, frail, Intensely nervous. Mibject to fainting fits at the lea>t e\eiteme»l. and literally

*' weak a-> a woman." To-day lier nerve s are a> unshakable as if they were wires of steel, her muscles have hardened until they are as firm as those of a man, -and as for fainting under the stress of any kind of excitement, Mrs. Bradley herself would be the first to laugh at the idea. The doctors declare that they can even detect a change in the timbre of Mrs. Bradley's voice, that it has taken on an unmistakably masculine tone. All this has been effected by the in'*iiMon into tbe woman's veins of a large quantity of man's blood.

Three or I'our weeks ago .Mrs. .BradIcy was brought tu the hospital suffering from a disease which. her husband's medical advisers declared, would necessitate an operation requiring tlie use of an anaesthetic. .So delicate was Mi's. Bradley tha|, the doctors pointed out to her husband thai it would be extremely dangerous to use the knife until her s vstein had been built up to bear the shock.

The operation was necessary, however, to preserve his wife's health," and Bradley insisted that it be performed. The doctors! agreed at lastj but only on condition that the woman be given a preliminary "training" process to put her in condition for the ordeal. Among other things it was decreed that a quantity of rich, .strong human blood .should l>e infused into her body. The doctors "were looking around for someone to supply the life fluid, when Bradley offered to bare his ow» arm for the siicrilice. The husband is a strapping six-i'ooter, a strong, dark, remarkably virile jnan. Au athlete all his life, lie had never known a day of serious illness. .Just as his wife was a typical example of ■womanly weakness, he was a type of the strong man. The doctors gladly accepted Bradley's oiler, and preparations for the transfusion were immediately 'begun. A vein in the husband's powerful forearm was opened and a pint of his blood poured into the veins of his "wife.

Li radical change iu Mrs. Bradley was noticeable within twenty-four hours. She lit'giin to put oil illesh, improve in colour, and to gain nervous strength. In a week nhe was so strong that her operation, a minor one, could be performed, and a few hours later she had recovered entirely ironi the shock and was convalescent.

Since then -the lias been under clo-e observation by tlie physicians, and many experts have bene called in to view her case. .Relatives who have visited her ■it the hospital say thai they would hardly know her aiid that, she appears more like her younger brother, an athlete ot some reputation, than her former self.

Mrs. liradley wants to leave ihe hot}, pital now, but. the phvsicians are delaying her departure a* long as possible in order to record the changes that are be. ing worked in Iter.

_ I lie enly ('.\|ihiiiiitinii possible, accordmg to llio doctors. i s that tin- lil.mil of Patrick Rradlcy has so dialled his wife that, shi' has in realitv hi'comi' a part of him. Tin- ,I,alter, which will 1,,, the subject for discussion ;l i (he next meetinjr of 111.. K-cx County Medical Socio!v. opens all manner of po—ibiliic-.