The Kimpton Brown flask was first described in 1913; the first successful citrated blood transfusion occurred in November 1914.Frosted, cylindrical glass flask with brown rubber stopper at top. A fluid outlet is located on the bottom of the flask and a narrow, horizontal and cylindrical valve is located below the flask rim. The flask contains a maximum volume of 600cc of fluid. The item was used in the collection and administration of blood transfusion procedures and the inside of the flask has a coating of paraffin wax to retard coagulation.flask, blood transfusion, anaesthetic, glass, parrafin wax, kimpton, 1914, coagulate, blood, frosted

Citrated blood was introduced by the Americans in 1917. This allowed blood administration to be delayed for up to two hours but there were many problems with transport, storage and infection in these early experimental days. This bottle contains ACD Solution (Anticoagulant Citrate Dextrose Solution) for ensuring blood doesn't coagulate during storage.Clear glass bottle with white [discoloured] label on the front with red printed text. The bottle contains a yellowish solution. The metal screw-top lid has been covered with brown paper and a black rubber tie is draped around the shoulder of the bottle.anticoagulant, citrate, dextrose, transfusion

Blood was long thought to be the essence of life and the centre of the soul; it was believed to provide a person with physical strength and mental abilities. In 1677, Richard Lower and Jean Baptiste Denis, in separate experiments, attempted animal-to-man transfusions to treat mental disorders. They had mixed success but didn't appear to cure the ailment. In 1818, James Blundell became interested in blood transfusion after witnessing the many deaths resulting from post-partum haemorrhage. He began with experiments in dogs and soon established it was possible to transfuse using a syringe if he worked quickly. Blundell established that cross-species transfusions didn't work and were dangerous. The early part of the 20th Century saw major developments in blood transfusion. Blood groups were identified by 1907 and the Kimpton Brown vessel (see 3675) slowed coagulation. These transfusion needles were used to collect and administer blood for transfusions.Two glass tubes, one with straight and one with a curve at the base. The tubes, known as cannualae, were used to facilitate blood transfusions.transfusion, cannula, kimpton brown, blood, blood transfusion, blundell, lower, denis