Eating the placenta may be a way of "getting in touch with one's inner cave
woman." Most mammals eat the placenta.  Eating the placenta may also be an
attempt to speed up milk production.  I have heard a farmer say that
allowing a cow to eat the placenta supplies her with enough additional
placental lactogen to increase milk production during the first two days.
Since humans digest proteins efficiently, this may not work for humans.

Allen A. Smith, Ph.D.
Barry University
School of Graduate Medical Sciences
    Podiatric Medicine and Surgery
Miami Shores, Florida  33161-6695 

-----Original Message-----
From: Bell, Lynne [mailto:Lynne.Bell@hitchcock.org]
Sent: Thursday, January 16, 2003 2:28 PM
To: Histonet
Subject: RE: Releasing unfixed specimens


Most of the unfixed placentas that we release here are being planted with a
tree to celebrate the birth of the child.  We also have had some requests
for placentas for eating (ick!).  Apparently they are being fried with
onions and is supposed to taste like liver (at least it doesn't taste like
chicken.

Lynne Bell, HT (ASCP)
Central Vermont Hospital
Barre, VT  05641