Haemostasis in shock Part 1: historical aspects

The term shock dates back to the Middle Ages.In its meaning of blow, punch or impact, the word found entry into medical terminology by its usage as a military expression.Doctors in antiquity already described clinical pictures, traumata, and blood-losses inducing shock-like states.From about 1500 on, even gunshot wounds were followed by such states.In 1737, H.F.Le Dran published his book on wounds by fire-arms.In its English translation of 1743, the term "shock" as a consequence of such traumata was used for the first time.Up to modern times, the importance of traumata and blood-losses triggering shock states was examinded in more detail.The effects of haemorrhages and haemostasis were also noticed as early as in ancient times.The practice of blood-letting and the inspection of this blood enabled the increasing understanding of normal and pathological haemostasis.In 1772, W.Hewson published his work on bloodloss and haemostasis.Owing to his publication in 1905, P.Morawitz became the founder of the "classical coagulation theory".It was only after the 1960s that the close and complex interactions of shock and haemostasis were examinded and more clearly understood.