Plasmapheresis: Great Economy in the Use of Horses

Abstract

Today's physicians are often inclined to be doers rather than thinkers, and if modern technology appears to offer a dramatic mechanical approach to the management of a dangerous disease, there will be a great temptation to hurry into action, perhaps before the evidence has been adequately weighed. Plasmapheresis is a somewhat blunt instrument for perturbing the equilibrium of the milieu internal, but has nevertheless recently produced some exciting preliminary results.The idea originated in 1914. Abel, Rowntree and Turner¹ in an account of their attempts to develop an artificial kidney commented, "In connection with our experiments on vividiffusion...the idea suggested . . .