When did the medical community first start using injections or shots?
Experiments with intravenous injections were first carried out in 1656 in England by Christopher Wren, although a German layman performed similar experiments as early as 1642. A precursor of the syringe and needle arrangement used today was perfected in 1853 by a French surgeon. Intravenous injection was carried out several times between 1656 and 1853, but fell in and out of favor during that interval due to lethal side effects.
