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TRANSFUSION. 
purity of the blood. This opposition gave rise to a great deal of 
discussion, in which Lamy was severely handled. 
But the most extravagant idea was that advanced by M. Deny's, 
the great supporter of the operation of transfusion. “ If wine,” 
says he, “is too bitter, we sweeten it; if thick, we are able to 
refine it; if weak, we can make it stronger; if full-bodied (gros), 
we can make it less so ; and, in a word, that which is spoiled may 
be corrected by the mixture of certain liquors, which are known to 
many, and. which they practise every day : — So with the blood; if 
it be too coarse (grossier), we can soften it, and render it more 
penetrating ; if too fluid, we can make it less so; if too hot, more 
temperate ; if too cold, we can raise its temperature ; and all this 
by means of certain bloods, the particular qualities of which are 
known to those who prescribe them.” 
Lamy considered that the blood of animals differed in its pro- 
perties, and that which was suited to the ox was not fit to nourish 
man. This observation is correct ; but, however, he carried his 
ideas so far as to suppose, that wool would grow on the human 
body if the blood of the sheep had been transfused into human veins. 
“ It is proper,” says he, “ that care be taken not to wound the soul 
by curing the diseases of the body, and not to employ a remedy to 
blunt the perceptions, and give to the patient brutal inclinations, 
not at all comformable with his nature. For the inclinations follow 
ordinarily the constitution of our blood, and the inequalities which 
we meet with in the minds of men are owing to the diversity of 
their blood, which furnishes them with understanding more or less 
proper to the clearness of perception and facility of acquiring 
knowledge.” “I conclude,” he adds, “that a man who has re- 
ceived the blood of an inferior animal in his veins becomes dull 
and loses his wit, and despoils himself of his proper inclinations, 
and puts on those of that beast*.” This opinion of Lamy’s met 
with many friends. In Blundell’s Physiological Researches it is 
said, “ When the blood of one genus of animals is added in small 
quantities to that of another genus, by transfusion, we have reason 
to believe, in the present state of our knowledge, that no dangerous 
consequences will ensue.” 
No subject caused more disputes, or greater animosity at the 
time, than transfusion. Men were hired by one party, dressed 
grotesquely with fools’ caps on their heads, who mounted stages, 
and vomited forth all kinds of abuse on the heads of the unfortunate 
Denys and other physicians who supported it. Satirical pamphlets 
became very numerous ; among which I may mention one entitled 
* Lettre eerite a Mons. Moreau, par G. Lamy, A.M., en l’Universitd de 
Paris, 1667. 
