Page:The Harveian oration 1905.djvu/103

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THE HARVEIAN ORATION.
99

with great advantage. To ignore venesection altogether is a mistake to be decidedly guarded against, though the objects for which it is practised in any particular case should be clearly recognised. Local removal of blood is more frequently applicable, and in my opinion leeching is much preferable to cupping. Notwithstanding the way in which dry-cupping has been depreciated in some quarters, I feel sure of its usefulness, and am convinced that this method is now-a-days often neglected when it might be of real advantage.

5. Whatever may have been the true history of the introduction and subsequent progress of the opposite practice of transfusion of blood from one individual to another, it is only within a comparatively modern period that the operation could have been possibly carried out with any degree of efficiency or safety, guarded by antiseptic precautions, and even now many object to its employment under any circumstances, as being too dangerous. Of course, it can only be called for under very exceptional and grave conditions. The substitution of defibrinated blood and milk for the entire blood did not lead to satisfactory results; but there is one development of this line of treatment which has proved of the utmost practical value, namely the infusion or injection of sterile saline solution (usually a weak solution of chloride of sodium) in considerable quantities. This method is founded