Introduction
For thousands of years, the human body was a mystery to the world of science. Indeed, cultures across the globe employed various forms of observation, experience, ritual, intuition, and other methods to combat illness; such efforts met with varying degrees of success. Yet, profound exploration of human physiology remained elusive. Nowhere was this more apparent than in the understanding of blood ... what it is; what it does; where it flows; how it is created; and many other questions went unanswered. For many, one issue was clear: blood transfusion was a sound medical procedure.
The practice of blood transfusion, that is the transference of blood from the circulation of one individual to that of another for practical therapeutic purposes, is of relatively recent origin. Although it only became a practical possibility during and shortly after the Second World
War, the concept of „transfusion? has a longer history.
The transfusion time line highlights many of the discoveries, inventions, observations, and practices, which, since ancient times, have led to remarkable progress and resulted in the effective treatments that are now taken for granted. The 20th Century has witnessed the most progress
in the enumerable transfusion practices, activities and safety. The practicality of transfusion has, to some degree, paralleled and in some instances been the consequence of, developments in other sciences.
The idea though of the theoretical beneficial effects of blood transfusion has been recognized for over three centuries. This older history is based on the traditional idea of blood as being the „living-force? of the body. Man must have recognized that loss of blood was frequently associated with weakness and death. This was manifested by Greeks and Romans committing suicide by „opening a vein? (involving cutting their wrists). Blood was recognized as having numerous mysterious properties, including initially that of carrying both the mental and physical characters of its owner. Early attempts at replacing lost blood involved the drinking of blood by the patient. By choice, this was from a young, healthy, fit person or animal. The legend of the vampire originates from this concept. This somewhat mystical fascination with the properties of blood is to some degree still with us today.
For thousands of years, the human body was a mystery to the world of science. Indeed, cultures across the globe employed various forms of observation, experience, ritual, intuition, and other methods to combat illness; such efforts met with varying degrees of success. Yet, profound exploration of human physiology remained elusive. Nowhere was this more apparent than in the understanding of blood ... what it is; what it does; where it flows; how it is created; and many other questions went unanswered. For many, one issue was clear: blood transfusion was a sound medical procedure.
The practice of blood transfusion, that is the transference of blood from the circulation of one individual to that of another for practical therapeutic purposes, is of relatively recent origin. Although it only became a practical possibility during and shortly after the Second World
War, the concept of „transfusion? has a longer history.
The transfusion time line highlights many of the discoveries, inventions, observations, and practices, which, since ancient times, have led to remarkable progress and resulted in the effective treatments that are now taken for granted. The 20th Century has witnessed the most progress
in the enumerable transfusion practices, activities and safety. The practicality of transfusion has, to some degree, paralleled and in some instances been the consequence of, developments in other sciences.
The idea though of the theoretical beneficial effects of blood transfusion has been recognized for over three centuries. This older history is based on the traditional idea of blood as being the „living-force? of the body. Man must have recognized that loss of blood was frequently associated with weakness and death. This was manifested by Greeks and Romans committing suicide by „opening a vein? (involving cutting their wrists). Blood was recognized as having numerous mysterious properties, including initially that of carrying both the mental and physical characters of its owner. Early attempts at replacing lost blood involved the drinking of blood by the patient. By choice, this was from a young, healthy, fit person or animal. The legend of the vampire originates from this concept. This somewhat mystical fascination with the properties of blood is to some degree still with us today.