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What do we see when we look closely?
Examine this illustration from an 1829 article in The Lancet showing a human blood transfusion performed by James Blundell. Dr. Blundell developed a device that revived a woman dying of blood loss with her husband's blood. The device was called a "gravitator," as it used gravity to transport the donor's blood to the patient.
Roll over different areas of the illustration to discover answers to the questions below.
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- Q1How does the gravitator's funnel work?
- A1The funnel is placed under the man's right arm, and is partially covered to capture his blood without spills. Marks inside the funnel indicate two fluid ounces in order to help physicians maintain the flow of a safe amount of blood to the patient. The stopper at the base of the funnel connects to a tube that leads to the patient's vein.
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- Q2Why is it beneficial to have the brace clasps be adjustable?
- A2Adjustable clasps can fit various sizes, shapes, and sides of a patient's arm, and allow physicians to align and insert the flexible tubular end into the patient's vein. This tube was made of soft silver to accommodate the flexibility of a vein. James Blundell notes that the tube should always be inserted in the direction of the patient's heart.
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- Q3Where is the man positioned in relation to his wife?
- A3James Blundell's gravitator placed the husband, the blood donor, above and near the wife, which drew criticism as the patient might be contagious and harm the healthy donor. There also were possible complications during a transfusion. Blundell urged on-going study of the patient's face for convulsions and twitches throughout the transfusion, to detect signs of "an overcharge of the heart."
-
- Q1How does the gravitator's funnel work?
- A1The funnel is placed under the man's right arm, and is partially covered to capture his blood without spills. Marks inside the funnel indicate two fluid ounces in order to help physicians maintain the flow of a safe amount of blood to the patient. The stopper at the base of the funnel connects to a tube that leads to the patient's vein.
-
- Q2Why is it beneficial to have the brace clasps be adjustable?
- A2Adjustable clasps can fit various sizes, shapes, and sides of a patient's arm, and allow physicians to align and insert the flexible tubular end into the patient's vein. This tube was made of soft silver to accommodate the flexibility of a vein. James Blundell notes that the tube should always be inserted in the direction of the patient's heart.
-
- Q3Where is the man positioned in relation to his wife?
- A3James Blundell's gravitator placed the husband, the blood donor, above and near the wife, which drew criticism as the patient might be contagious and harm the healthy donor. There also were possible complications during a transfusion. Blundell urged on-going study of the patient's face for convulsions and twitches throughout the transfusion, to detect signs of "an overcharge of the heart."
- 1How does the gravitator's funnel work?
- 2Why is it beneficial to have the brace clasps be adjustable?
- 3Where is the man positioned in relation to his wife?
