Page:Philosophical Transactions - Volume 002.djvu/219

 our opinion of the fitness of trying the Transfusion upon this man, we answer'd, that we could indeed give good assurance for his Life, and that this Operation was in it self not capable to cause the death of any one, if discreetly managed; but as to the Cure of such an Extravagance, as that appeared to us, we had not yet experience enough to dare to promise him that, and that our Conjectures went no farther, than to think, that the blood of a Calf by its mildness and freshness might possibly allay the heat and ebullition of his blood, being mixed therewith. The matter having been sufficiently examined; we resolv'd to carry this Man into a private house; and there we appointed for his Gardian that Porter, on whom we had already practised the Transfusion 8 months ago, both that the Thing might not appear so new to him, as it might do to others, that never had seen the Experiment before, and that he might serve us the more to assure our Patient, and others, who should be present at the Operation, that there was no danger in it at all.

Decemb. 19. we used what art we could to dispose the fancy of our Patient to suffer the Transfusion, which we resolv'd should be tried upon him that night about 6 a Clock. Many persons of Quality were present, together with several Physicians and Chirurgeons, too intelligent to suspect them of being capable of the least surprise. M. Emmerez open'd the Crural Artery of a Calf and did all the necessary preparations in their presence; and after he had drawn from the Patient about 10 ounces of blood out of a Vein of the right Arm, we could give him no more again than about 5 or 6 ounces of that of the Calf, by reason that his constrained posture, and the crowd of the Spectators; interrupted very much this Operation.

Mean time. he found himself as he said, very hot all along his Arm, and under the Armpits, and perceiving, that he was falling into a swoon, we presently stopped the blood running in, and closed up the wound: Yet he supped two hours after, and notwithstanding some dulness and sleepiness he was in now and then, he yet passed that night with singing, whistling, and other extravagances usual with him.

But yet next morning we found him somewhat less exorbitant, both in his actions and words; and that induced us to believe, that