Since the advent of blood banking in the United States in 1937 vast advances in the preparation, storage and utilization of blood, blood derivatives and substitutes have occurred. The second World War provided additional stimulus for the investigation of the potentialities of these substances. It is therefore appropriate for the authors of this volume to summarize the accumulated knowledge concerning blood derivatives and substitutes as they have long been active in investigations in this field.
The volume is well organized and comprehensive in its scope. From a concise historic discussion the authors proceed to consider the fundamental chemistry and physiology of plasma.