Museum Science Café, featuring author Holly Tucker May 11, 2011

Join the National Museum of Health and Medicine and catch a gory glimpse of the dawn of our scientific age as author Holly Tucker discusses her new book, “Blood Work: A Tale of Medicine and Murder in the Scientific Revolution.” It tells the true story of one of the world's first blood transfusions, beginning on a cold day in 1667 when renegade physician Jean-Baptiste Denis transfused calf’s blood into one of Paris’s most notorious madmen. In doing so, Denis angered not only the elite scientists who had hoped to perform the first animal-to-human blood transfusions themselves, but also a host of powerful conservatives who believed that the doctor was toying with forces of nature that he did not understand. Just days after the experiment, the madman was dead, and Denis was framed for murder.

All are welcome to join this discussion about another era’s medical controversies, with hopes of shedding light on more contemporary ones.

Official Website: http://nmhm.washingtondc.museum