HOW CAN BLOOD SAVE YOUR LIFE?

WHAT OF USING BLOOD AS MEDICINE?

Would the Biblical prohibition on blood cover medical uses, such as transfusions, which certainly were not known in the days of Noah, Moses, or the apostles?

While modern therapy employing blood did not exist back then, medicinal use of blood is not modern. For some 2,000 years, in Egypt and elsewhere, human "blood was regarded as the sovereign remedy for leprosy."  A physician revealed the therapy given to King Esar-haddon's son when  the nation of Assyria was on the leading edge of technology:  "[the prince] is doing much better; the king, my lord, can be happy.  Starting with the 22nd day I give (him) blood to drink, he will drink (it) for 3 days. For 3 more days i shall give (him blood) for internal application."  Esar-haddon had dealing with the Israelites. Yet, because the Israelites had God's Law, they would never drink blood as medicine. 

Was blood used as medicine in Roman times?  The naturalist Pliny (a contemporary of the apostles) and the second-century physician Aretaeus  report that human blood was a treatment for epilepsy. Tertullian later wrote:   "Consider those who with greedy thirst, at a show in the arena."  He contrasted them with Christians, who "do not even have the blood of the animals at [their] meals . .  .  At the trials of Christians you offer them sausages filled with blood. You are convinced, of course, that [it] is unlawful for them."  So, early Christians would risk death rather than take in blood. 

Next time: HOW CAN BLOOD SAVE YOUR LIFE?/Conclusion of WHAT OF USING BLOOD AS MEDICINE

From the Watchtower magazine