A recent BBC documentary based on a study by the American John Edgar Browning, with the title of " Royal Vampires of New Orleans and Buffalo: research notes towards a comparative ethnography ”, has returned to place on the table, if at some point I cease to be, the fascinating theme of vampirism, but this time from a different perspective than literature or the “red” pages.
“True Blood” True
Browning managed to contact true human blood drinkers in the cities mentioned above, even though he believes that there should be similar groups in other cities in the United States and the rest of the world, but they stay away from the media and public visibility due to the macabre and vampire connotations of their habit.
Nothing is further from fiction than these consumers of human blood with normal families, normal daytime jobs and customs, and a denture equal to that of any of us .In fact, people contacted by Browning have no greater interest in vampirism, Dracula and its aftermath, than any fan of literature and horror movies might feel, or have an HBO subscription.
With bite or without bite
The practice of this 21st century vampirism-which has a very old background-is closer to a visit to a blood bank than to the sensual bites of a Nosferatu."Donors" are contacted through different networks, tests should be done to rule out AIDS and any other disease that can be transmitted through the blood, and once these requirements are met you can choose between two forms of extraction: the conventional, with injector, tourniquet , test tube and some a sterilizing substance (as if it were a blood test); or the direct take of the body of the “donor”.
This last procedure is to make a clean cut with a disposable scalpel and then proceed to suck.In this case the diner must also ensure that his mouth is properly disinfected.
Causes of this bloody hobby
Browning was able to determine that blood consumption begins in adolescence and initially serves to compensate for a lack of widespread energy.Drinkers say that they do not for pleasure , and that way they can avoid headaches, stomach aches and chronic weakness, which is only removed with the intake of human blood.
Among doctors there is no unanimity about the effects benefits or harmful of human blood, some believe that the way it takes away fatigue could be part of a placebo effect, but they believe that if it is pos It is possible to relieve stomach pains thanks to its laxative properties.
The supposed properties of blood as food or medicine date back several centuries ago, and partly explain the myths and legends about vampires.Pope Innocent VIII, who in the fifteenth century was treated by his doctors giving fresh blood to drink of three young people who died bleeding.
Perhaps now, when this curious community begins to open to public scrutiny, may to become more exhaustive studies that explain this strange hobby, and our ancient fascination for it.
Meanwhile, stay with us and read about an interesting man, Aleksandr Bogdanov, who sought immortality through blood.
Images: Emerson Quinn , Kevin Dooley , Alex Leung , Viewminder
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