To the Editor of the Crimson:

It seems to me that the student-body, now that our country is at war, might be willing to be of practical assistance to their countrymen who must go out and suffer for them.

My plea relates to the procurement of blood from citizens in order that we may store up for the Army and Navy processed blood in the form of dried plasma, i.e. the liquid part of blood after the cells are removed. This material can be redissolved in distilled water for use after injury in place of transfusions and of course is much more easily transportable. The Surgeons General have requested that " a large quantity of blood plasma be place and maintained in refrigerated storage where it will be available not only for military emergency but also for civilian catastrophies." The National Red Cross have been appointed the official sponsors for securing this material, and the doctors who do this have been carefully chosen by a committee under the auspices of the National Institute of Health.

It appears to those of us who have given the greater part of the last year to civilian defense and other Governmental agencies in preparing this country for the dilemma which now confronts us that the large numbers of healthy young men in our universities are a legitimate pool from which blood may be obtained. Blood will only be drawn in 500 cc., i.e. 1 pint, lots from individuals who are healthy and in whom such a withdrawal would leave-no deleterious effects. It is required that mature minors (that is individuals under 21) bring with them the written consent of their parents of guardians.

We hope that the students at Harvard University will enroll themselves in groups of 50 to 80 and have a spokesman call the American Red Cross Blood Donor Service, 690 Boylston Street, Boston, for an appointment for his group to be bled. In this fashion you can be of immediate assistance to your country. Elliott C. Cutler '09,   Mosely Professor of Surgery