Complete Record - Heirs of Hippocrates No. 598

JOHANN DANIEL MAJOR (1634-1693) Chirurgia infusoria. Sumptibus Joh. Lüdervvald, Impremebat Joach. Reumannus 1667 [8] 328 [2] pp., illus. 17.8 cm.

Major, a native of Breslau, Germany, received his medical degree at Padua in 1660. He practiced medicine at Hamburg and Wittenberg before being appointed the first professor of medicine at Kiel in 1665. Although there is some controversy with regard to priority in blood transfusion, Major may be clearly credited with the first successful injection of a medicinal substance into the vein of a human in 1662. In the Prologue to this work, Major explains his general intent and illustrates with a striking woodcut his method of performing intravenous infusion. In the Prodome, first written at Hamburg in 1664, he reviews the work of other investigators who used animals and substances such as wine, water, and poisons in their experimentation with transfusion. Major also argues the merit and originality of his own work with humans. His work included blood transfusion as well as the injection of medicinal substances. Also included in the book are letters to Major from various contemporaries who criticized his work and compared it with their own research. Major discusses their arguments and provides substantiation for his work.

Cited references: Garrison-Morton 1963; Waller 6159

Gift of John Martin, M.D.