One of the earliest known records of which (now common) medical practice is in a contemporary account of an unsuccessful attempt to extend the life of a mediaeval pope?

ArlingtonVA

Blood transfusion? Pope Innocent VIII. http://jhmas.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/pdf_extract/IX/4/455 Jul 06 09, 7:24 PM

gmackematix

I was indeed referring to Stefano Infessura's account of how the death of 15th century Pope Innocent VIII cost the lives of three children who were paid a ducat each for their blood. Because Stefano was very unflattering about his contemporary popes, many Catholic scholars have understandably tried to dismiss his writings as anti-papist propaganda. Although the blood was probably taken by mouth, this is still quoted in many medical journals as the first recorded instance of blood transfusion. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_transfusion Jul 06 09, 8:24 PM

queproblema

Astounding! How did the Church avoid a blood libel? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_libel Jul 06 09, 8:28 PM

star_gazer

In all fairness, how valid a source was Stefano? "The antipapal and republican temper of the author, also his partisan devotion to the Colonna, and his personal animosity, led him to indulge in very severe charges and violent accusations of the popes, especially Sixtus IV. He put down in his chronicle every fragment of the most preposterous and malevent gossip current in Roman society; even obvious falsehoods attributed to him. He is therefore not considered a reliable chronicler. It is only with the greatest caution and after very careful criticism that his work can be used for the papal history of his time." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stefano_Infessura Jul 06 09, 10:18 PM

gmackematix

Indeed, but he will be Innocent even if proved guilty. Jul 10 09, 8:36 AM