THE BLOOD. 161 



was found that if an animal was drained of its blood, and lay faint and almost 

 lifeless, and the blood of another was transfused into its circulating system, it 

 soon revived, stood up, and presently ran about as before, apparently none the 

 worse for the operation. If too much was poured in, the animal became 

 drowsy, breathed with difficulty, and died of plethora. Au idea of curing 

 diseases in this way, by substituting the blood of the healthy for that of the 

 diseased, was immediately entertained when the possibility of the operation was 

 proved. 



But the first case of human transfusion proved fatal, and the unfortunate 

 results of some careless trials caused the Pope and the King of France to pro- 

 hibit the practice. 



The extravagant hopes of curing diseases and restoring youth, at first enter- 

 tained in France, were disappointed, and the operation fell into complete neglect, 

 notwithstanding that Denys, in France, was declared to have made a fool clever 

 by a supply of lamb's blood; a Mr. Cox, in England, to have cured an old 

 mongrel of the mange with the blood of a young spaniel ; and a M. Gayant to 

 have made a blind old dog frisk with juvenile bound, which before could hardly 

 stir ; till Dr. Leacock brought it again into notice a few years ago, and Dr. James 

 Blundel prosecuted this gentleman's researches. Dr. James Blundel conceived it 

 might be rationally expected to be of benefit in cases of dangerous haemorrhage, 

 and he soon proved it to be void of danger in the human subject, if properly 

 performed. Many women, who would probably otherv/ise have perished from 

 uterine haemorrhage, now owe their lives to his disinterested zeal in establishing 

 the practice. 



I should think it applicable to many cases of exhaustion, besides those 

 arising from haemorrhage. The original history of transfusion will be found in 

 the early numbers of the Philosophical Transactions : the successful cases of its 

 employment as a remedy, in the late English journals. The double pump 

 employed for emptying the stomach, or a common syringe, capable of holding 

 four or six ounces, answers very well. But Dr. Blundel at present, when he 

 has able assistants, sometimes receives the blood from the blood-vessel into a 

 funnel, the tube of which is very long, and inserted in the vein of the subject 

 supplied, so that the blood enters by its gravity only. 



Very lately salts of potass and soda, dissolved in various quantities of 

 water, have been injected into the veins of persons exhausted by the Asiatic 

 epidemic, improperly called Cholera. The effect is often astonishing. The 

 patient, apparently almost lifeless, often revives, sits up, speaks, and takes 

 nourishment. The improvement is transient, but frequently recurs on repeating 

 the injection, and sometimes life has probably been saved by the measure. Many 

 pints of saline fluid have thus sometimes been introduced in a few hours. Oc- 

 casionally, oppression of the head has been induced ; but generally a greatly 

 increased discharge of fluid from the alimentary canal occurred. 



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