T R A 
63 
T R A 
evacuation produces syncope; the animal ceases to move, 
and appears dead: but when the end of the tube connected 
with the artery of the other animal is introduced into the 
vein, and the stop-cock is turned, the current of arterial 
blood produces reanimation; the power of motion and the 
former strength are restored. 
The experiments on this subject were first tried in England, 
where T. Clarke failed in bis attempts in the year 1657; 
Phil. Trans. N° 35. Lower succeeded in 1665, and com- 
municated his success to the Royal Society; Phil. Trans. 
N° 30. This was on dogs: Th. Coxe did it on pigeons; 
Birch, vol. ii. p. 50. Coxe and King exhibited the experi¬ 
ment on dogs before the Society, transfusing the blood from 
vein to vein ; ibid. p. 123: Phil. Trans. N° 19, 20, 25, 27. 
It was again performed from a sheep to a dog; Birch, p. 133; 
and the experiment was afterwards frequently repeated; Birch, 
vol. ii. pp. 162, 179, 190, 191. It was also performed in 
France and other countries. 
■ The first proceedings in this matter seem to have been in¬ 
stigated merely by curiosity, or at least by a disposition to 
inquire into the powers of the animal economy. But higher 
views soon opened themselves: it was conceived that inve¬ 
terate diseases, such as epilepsy, gout, and others, supposed 
to reside in the blood, might be expelled with that fluid, 
while, with the blood of a sheep or calf, the health and 
strength of the animal might be transferred to the patient. 
The most sanguine anticipations were indulged on the occa¬ 
sion, and the new process was almost expected to realize the 
alchemical reveries of an elixir of life and immortality. The 
experiment was first tried in France, where the blood of a 
sheep was transfused into the veins of a stupid youth, with 
the effect, as was asserted, of sharpening his wits. (Phil. 
Trans. 27. 32.) And a similar experiment was made with¬ 
out injury in a healthy man. (Ibid.) Lower and King 
transferred blood from a sheep into the system of a literary 
man, who had offered himself for the experiment, at first 
without inconvenience, but afterwards with a less favourable 
result; the Royal Society still recommending perseverance in 
the trials. Birch, vol. ii. pp. 216, 225, 227, 312. Phil. 
Trans. N° 30. 
These events were not calculated to keep up the expec¬ 
tations that had been raised, of brilliant results; and other 
occurrences produced still more severe disappointment. The 
French youth first mentioned, died lethargic soon after the 
second transfusion: the physicians incurred great disgrace, 
and were judicially prosecuted by the relations. (Phil. 
Trans. 28, 32, 36, 37, 54.) Not however discouraged by 
this unlucky case, they soon after transfused the blood of a 
calf into a youth related to the royal family, who died soon 
after with the intestines inflamed. (Phil. Trans. 28, 30.) 
The parliament of Paris now interfered, and proscribed the 
practice. (Du Hamel, Hist. Acad. Reg. Societ. p. 21, 22.) 
Two persons having died after transfusion at Rome, the pope 
also issued a prohibitory edict. (Eph. Nat. Cur. Dec. I., 
ann. 1, obs. 149. Merclin deTransfus. Sanguinis, p. 25, 85.) 
The practice has recently been revived by Dr. Blundell in 
cases of death from intense haemorrhage; and with much 
success. 
To TRANSGRE'SS, v. a. [transgressus, Lat.] To pass 
over; to pass beyond. 
Long stood the noble youth, oppress’d with awe. 
And stupid at the wonderous things he saw, 
Surpassing common faith, transgressing nature’s law. 
Dry den. 
To violate; to break..—This sorrow we must repeat as often 
as we transgress the divine commandments. Wake. 
To TRANSGRE'SS, v. n. To offend by violating a law. 
-—I would not marry her, though she were endowed with all 
Adam had left him before he transgressed. Shakspeare. 
TRANSGRE'SSION, s. [transgression , Fr.] Violation 
of a law; breach of a command. 
Shall I abuse this consecrated gift 
Of strength, again returning with my hair 
After my great transgression : so requite 
Favour renew’d, and add a greater sin ? Milton. 
Offence; crime; fault. 
Teach us, sweet madam, for our rude transgression 
Some fair excuse. Shakspeare . 
TRANSGRE'SSIVE, ad/. Faulty ; culpable; apt to break 
laws.—Though permitted unto his proper principles, Adam 
perhaps would have sinned without the suggestion of Satan, 
and from the transgressive infirmities of himself might have 
erred alone, as well as the angels before him. Brown. 
TRANSGRE'SSOR, s. Lawbreaker; violator of com¬ 
mand ; offender.—He intended the discipline of the church 
should be applied to the greatest and most splendid trans¬ 
gressors, as well as to the punishment of meaner offenders. 
Clarendon. 
TRA'NSIENT, adj. [transiens, Lat] Soon past; soon 
passing; short; momentary ; not lasting ; not durable. 
How soon hath thy prediction, seer blest! 
Measur’d this transient world, the race of time, 
Till time stand fix’d. Milton , 
TRA'NSIENTLY, adv. In passage; with a short pas¬ 
sage; not with continuance.—I touch here but transiently , 
without any strict method, on some few of those many rules 
of imitating nature which Aristotle drew from Homer. 
Dryden. 
■ TRA'NSIENTNESS,s. Shortness of continuance; speedy 
passage.—It were to be wished that all words of this sort, as 
they resemble the wind in fury and impetuousness, so 
they might do also in transientness and sudden expiration. 
Dec. ofChr. Piety. 
TRANSI'LIENCE, or Transi'liency, s. [transilio, Lat.] 
Leap from thing to thing.—By unadvised transiliency leap¬ 
ing from the effect to its remotest cause, we observe not the 
connection of more immediate casualties. Glanville. 
TRA'NSIT, s. [transitus, Lat.] In Astronomy the pass¬ 
ing of any planet just by or under any fixed star; or of 
the moon covering or moving close by any other planet. 
Harris. 
TRANSITION, s. [transitio, Lat.] Removal; passage 
from one to another.—Heat and cold have a virtual transi¬ 
tion, without communication of substance, but moisture not. 
Bacon. —Change; made of change.—The spots are of the 
same colour throughout, there being an immediate transi¬ 
tion from white to black, and not declining gradually, and 
mixing as they approach. Woodward. — [transition, Fr.] 
Passage in writing or conversation from one subject to 
another.—He with transition sweet new speech resumes. 
Milton. 
TRANSITION ROCKS, in Geology, a name introduced 
by Werner, to designate those rocks which, on account of 
their containing few organic remains, and lying immediately 
over other rocks which contain none, are supposed by him to 
have been formed when the world was passing from an un¬ 
inhabitable to a habitable state. See Mineralogy, Geo¬ 
logy, and Rocks. 
TRA'NSITIVE, adj. [ transitions , Lat.] Having the 
power of passing.-—One cause of cold, is the contact of 
cold bodies; for cold is active and transitive into bodies 
adjacent, as well as heat. Bacon. —[In grammar.] A verb 
transitive is that which signifies an action, conceived as 
having an effect upon some object; as fero terram, I strike 
the earth. Clarke. 
TRA'NSITORILY, adv. With speedy evanescence; 
with short continuance. 
TRA'NSITORINESS, s. Speedy evanescence.—The 
worldly man is at home in respect of his affections; but 
he is, and shall be, a mere sojourner in respect of his 
transitoriness. Bp. Hall. 
TRA'NSITORY, adj. [transitorius, from transeo, Lat.] 
Continuing but a short time; speedily vanishing.—O Lord, 
comfort and succour all them who in this transitory life are 
in trouble. Comm. Prayer. 
TRANSLATABLE, adj. Capable of being translated. 
To 
