CHAPTER XX 



ALCOHOL AS A BEVERAGE 



Students in the medical department of Johns Hopkins 

 University were very quiet as they listened to what the doctor 

 said. He told them that Charlie was dangerously ill, that he 

 was ten years old, and that his only chance for life was to 

 have his spleen taken out. He said the boy's father was 

 dead, that his mother had come from India with her son, 

 and that the operation would be sure to kill him unless, while 

 it was going on, blood could be put into his body from some 

 one else by transfusion, as it is called. 



The doctor then asked for volunteers, and four of the 

 medical students stepped forward at once. 



A sample of blood was drawn from each person. This 

 was tested, and the choice fell on a healthy young fellow of 

 twenty-four. 



Next day came the operation. The surgeon opened an 

 artery in the student's arm, and a vein in the arm of the 

 small boy. He then put the two openings opposite each other 

 and joined them together. After that, whenever the heart 

 of the young man beat, it sent a strong current of rich blood 

 into the feeble body of the small boy. From being very pale, 

 the lad gradually grew pink. Even his finger tips changed 

 color slightly. 



The transfer of blood went on for about two hours ; and 

 during this time Charlie received between one and two quarts 

 of blood. 



MS 



