Overview

During the nineteenth century physicians began experimenting with blood transfusions, directly from donor to patient. Most failed until Karl Landsteiner (1868-1943) discovered blood groups, which must be matched properly for a successful transfusion. The development of anticoagulant drugs around 1914 allowed blood to be stored. Blood banking began in 1937, and the system was expanded greatly during World War II.

Background

In 1628 English physician William Harvey (1578-1657) described the circulation of blood in the body. This sparked interest in understanding the functions of the blood, and physicians became interested in replacing lost blood through transfusions. Soon after Harvey published his work, transfusions between animals were attempted. In 1665 another English physician, Richard Lower (1631-1691), successfully transfused blood between dogs.

Since animals could be induced to "donate" blood more readily than seventeenth-century humans, they were eyed as possible sources of blood...