Blood Transfusions

History of Blood Transfusions

    Blood transfusions that have been used to save lives can be traced back to the 1600s. In 1628 the physician William Harvey discovers the circulation of blood and soon after the first transfusion was attempted. In 1665 the first successful blood transfusion occurs between two dogs by Richard Lower. In 1667 Jean Baptiste Denis and Richard Lower performed the first recorded transfusions into humans using sheep’s blood. In 1818 the first successful blood transfusion from one person to another is done by James Blundell. In Dracula, which takes place in the 1890s, we see Dr. Van Helsing perform four successful human to human blood transfusions.

Blood Typing

Depiction of an 1882 direct blood transfusion

    When blood transfusions first were being used, they did not know that people had different blood types and a blood transfusion with a non-compatible blood type would lead to death. “With the discovery of the major blood groups and the introduction of blood typing in the 20th century, transfusion became routinely successful”  (Blood Transfusion). Once there was a way to figure out blood types, people were no longer dying from receiving a blood transfusion from the wrong blood type. Blood donors with O- are called universal donors because anyone no matter what blood type they have can receive O- blood. Anyone with AB+ blood type are called universal recipients because they can safely receive any type of blood. This is because any positive blood type can receive both positive and negative blood but negative can only receive negative.

Transmittable Diseases

Collins blood transfusion apparatus,1876

    Many people were getting sick from transmittable diseases through blood transfusions. “Transmission of hepatitis B virus was a major risk until a method of screening blood for infectivity was developed in the 1960s; the first specific screening test for hepatitis C, the other major hepatitis virus transmitted via blood, was introduced in 1990” (Blood Transfusion). It wasn’t until the 20th century where blood was being screened for specific diseases that could be transmitted through blood transfusions. Before the 20th century people were either dying or getting sick from receiving a transfusion with the wrong blood or contaminated blood.

Blood Transfusions in Dracula

    In Dracula Lucy Westenra received four blood transfusions from Arthur Holmwood, Quincey Morris, Dr. John Seward, and Dr. Abraham Van Helsing in an attempt to save her life. The book takes place before blood screening and typing was introduced. Dr. Van Helsing did not know that any of these blood transfusions could have killed Lucy or caused her to become very sick. Since Dracula drinks the blood of another person it could also be seen as another form of a blood transfusion. 

Works Cited:

“Blood Transfusion.” Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia, Jan. 2018, p. 1. EBSCOhost, research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=abb1b695-46cb-341f-ab1d-1da2d216aec3.https://research-ebsco-com.proxy commonwealthu.klnpa.org/c/qh4vbl/viewer/html/7pu2mgdjmv

“Blood Types.” Explained - A, B, AB and O | Red Cross Blood Services, www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/blood-types.html. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025. 

“Highlights of Transfusion Medicine History.” Www.Aabb.Org, www.aabb.org/news-resources/resources/transfusion-medicine/highlights-of-transfusion-medicine-history. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025. 

“History of Blood Transfusions.” History Of Blood Transfusions 1628 To Now | Red Cross Blood Services, www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/blood-donation-process/what-happens-to-donated-blood/blood-transfusions/history-blood-transfusion.html. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

Direct transfusion of blood from one patient to another, performed by Dr. Roussel in Geneva Date: 1882. Https://Www.Britannica.Com/Science/Blood-Transfusion#/Media/1/69869/123050. 

Collins blood transfusion apparatus,1876. Https://Wellcomecollection.Org/Works/Uhjrxtzz/Images?Id=mvzpr63u.