Blood and Its Derivatives

SINCE prehistoric man first noticed the red fluid that issued from his wounds, much thought and energy have been expended toward the conservation, investigation and utilization of this life-symbolizing liquid — blood. The past decade has witnessed great advances along these lines impelled by the demands of the recent war. To summarize all aspects of this important subject, however, would involve a treatise on the major branches of medicine. This review is restricted to the following topics: whole blood—preservation, use, reactions, salvage of erythrocyte residues, physiology and procurement; plasma — homologous serum hepatitis and clinical use; plasma fractionation—methods, use of . . .