Free the Cannibal

I have to say that the first time I heard someone mention hunger pangs supposedly striking surgeons in an operating theatre at the site of blood/open flesh, I recoiled.  The rationale put forward at the time was that this was some kind of evolutionary reflex from our ancestral past as we scavenged for meat.

A quick google revealed one concerned individual who salivated at the sight of blood - although s/he was not a student of medicine.  Is this response a case of hematolagnia or an evolutionary ghost, unavoidably stirred up? 

Outside of medicine there seems to be a whole world of blood fetishism that was hitherto unknown to me - such as clinical vamprism (Renfield syndrome) - an obsession to drink blood!  This is obviously some kind of mental disorder, but when you think of cannibal spectrum from the criminally insane, through religious/ceremonial performances, it does seem odd that you eventually arrive in the field of medicine.  You don't believe me?

• "5. the surgeons us a tool called a diathermy which is used to cut tissues and prevent blood loss by effectively burning the tissues this at times can result in a lot of smoke being generated and the smell of burning flesh which can have one of two out comes, making you feel very sick or making you feel very hungry, it reminds me of bacon cooking so I get hungry."

Now that is what I call paleo!  ;)