I took place in a bloodletting ritual as part
of my research. After a minor amount of
paperwork, I entered the place where my blood
would be drained. The room was cold but pretty
well lit. I was reclining with my arm resting on a
small arm that swung down from the side of the
chair. I could feel the cold hard steel enter my
flesh. The sting of the blade slicing my vein and
entering was very strong. The deep red blood
started to flow in a rhythmic pulsating motion in
conjunction with my heart. I sat there for what felt
like ten or fifteen minutes. I watched as the vital
fluid left my body never to return. After the
agreed upon amount was extracted, the blade was
removed. Ok, it was a needle, but it looked like a
blade. “What color arm wrap do you prefer?”
asked the technician. A small piece of cotton and a
little tape unceremoniously applied, signaled the
end of the session. I did feel a bit better when it
was all over. I felt refreshed and vitalized. Was it a
placebo effect? Perhaps it was, but I didn’t care. I
grabbed my juice and cookies and left the
bloodmobile. I never felt more connected to an
ancient bio-community. I belong to the
community of those who have given blood for
medicine.
An image of cupping being used in Palestine. Source:
cellar.org/iotd.php?thereadid=3710
I first started this research thinking that
bloodletting as it was practiced in the 18th and 19th
century was a guessing game with no structural
boundaries. I came to learn that there was more
structure and calculation that went into the
application of this practice than I gave them credit
for. There are clearly beneficiary outcomes of
utilizing this medical procedure. It didn’t have a
strong base in science at first, but results are the
biggest determining factor concerning whether
something is valid or not. If it works, it isn’t
stupid. It fell out of practice because of social
stigma as being something archaic. Today, it is
alive and well.
Works Cited
“Bloodletting” British Medical Journal 1.26 (1912):
798. Print.
“Bloodletting” British Medical Journal 1.533 (1871):
283-284. Print.
Bramwell, J.P., Greenhow, T.M.
“Bloodletting” British Medical Journal 1.960 (1879):
797-798. Print.
DePalma, Ralph G., Hayes, Virginia W.,
Zacharski, Leo R.
“ Bloodletting: Past and Present” Journal of the
American College of Surgeons 205.1 (2007): 132-144.
Print.
Dowse, Thomas S. M.D.
“Bloodletting” British Medical Journal 1.955 (1879):
608- 609. Print.
Jones, William W.
“Bloodletting” British Medical Journal 2.183 (1864):
24-25. Print.
Modern day bloodletting in the Philippines. Source:
pimaphilippines.org/images/stories/bloodletting1.jpg
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