It turns out that blood was used in antiquity for medicinal purposes. She was considered a bearer of vital force and "habitat" of the soul, so the doctors 'prescribed' to drink the warm blood of animals with various diseases. Sometimes they advised her to drink and healthy people – just a general state of the organism. You would not believe, but the blood even used as rejuvenator! The old men took her into the past in the hope of regaining power and appeal. Only when it became clear that blood should not drink and pour.
The first intravenous transfusion was held in 1667 in France. In that fateful day a man was infused blood of lamb. The experience is quite successful, but to the surprise and dismay of scientists, further attempts ended very sadly, they still lead to more complications and even death to patients. It was not until the early 19th century, when scientists finally realized their mistake: it turns out that a person generally can not transfuse the blood of animals, it is suitable only human blood. And in 1819 in England, held the first transfusion of human blood. In Russia, this experiment was carried out somewhat later – in 1832.
At that time, a woman dying of uterine bleeding, blood was transfused her husband. Woman recovered, and researchers rejoiced: the path to salvation for many patients found, they decided. However, again in front of them were disappointed: the people who poured someone's blood does not always survive. only in the early twentieth century Austrian scientist Karl Landsteiner found that the blood of all people are different. However, the discovery of blood groups was preceded by another very important event. It was found that a living organism recognizes all falling in a foreign substances (Antigens) and can protect against them.