Blood was first given by the early Egyptians and Romans not as transfusion but orally as a life-giving tonic. Blood was believed to transmit youth from donor to recipient. This practice fell into disfavor in 1492 in the days of Pope Innocent VIII. The pope was given the blood of three young men, a cocktail which not only failed to revive the pope but also took the lives of the three young donors. After this, the giving of blood was banned for many years.