Die Spezifizität der Serologischen Reaktionen.

The father of transfusion medicine. First edition of this uncommon summary of Landsteiner's decades-long work on human blood types, for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1930. A very attractive copy.

It was known as early as 1875 that dangerous clots were formed when blood from animals was transfused into humans. Beginning in 1901 Karl Landsteiner (1868-1943), then working at Vienna University, showed that the same thing could occur when blood was exchanged between people. Meticulously checking the reactions of different samples, he was able to classify blood into the ABO types still in use today. He also proved that clots were caused by an immunological reaction between red blood cells and antibodies in serum, and demonstrated that the blood groups are inherited. Thanks to his efforts, the first blood testing system was established in 1910 and the earliest blood banking system was set up during the 1930s. Landsteiner continued working on blood types throughout his career, and also made important contributions to the discovery of the polio virus and to other subjects in immunology.

First edition; 8vo; diagrams within the text, ink stamp of the Frederiksberg Officerskolens Kemiske Laboratorium to the title, front free endpaper, and p. 101, pencilled biographical note in German to the front pastedown, contents fresh; original buff cloth, titles to spine and upper board in dark blue, some very light spotting to the cloth, excellent condition; 123pp.

Garrison-Morton Medical Bibliography 2576.2.