The article gives a survey of the development of resuscitation methods and attempts from the 19th century to the first decade of the 20th century and refers to ideas, personalities, important publications, events and facts that interfered with the development of the resuscitation art. The article contains information gained due to the Wood Library-Museum Fellowship 2000.

        Key words: history – resuscitation – 19th century – artificial ventilation – cardiac massage – contemporary publications