title: In defence of ancient bloodletting.
abstract: The ancients used bloodletting extensively in infectious and other diseases. When recent work on iron and bacterial infection is taken into account, it is possible to argue that bloodletting, which reduced plasma iron and transferrin saturation, might have been of value in increasing resistance to infection by bacteria or plasmodia. Galen's bloodletting methods are summarized, and their probable effect on plasma iron is considered. The ancient physicans who had no specific remedies for infection whatsoever, may well have been justified in making responsible use of bloodletting, both for the treatment and for the prophylaxis of infectious disease.
mesh_terms: D001782:Blood Donors; D001815:Bloodletting / Q000266:history*; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies; D014168:Transferrin / Q000378:metabolism; D014920:Wine
chemical_list: D014168:Transferrin; D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron