HIRUDIN, HEPARIN AND NECHELES,HEINRICH

The early history of haemodialysis was closely linked to the developme nt of methods of anticoagulation. After John B. Haycroft identified hi rudin, several investigators, including J.J. Abel and his colleagues, used it for extra-corporeal anticoagulation, however it was not until Jay McLean and William Howell developed heparin that a reliable substa nce became available. Heinrich Necheles appears to have been the first to apply this to dialysis in experiments that he carried out in Pekin g.