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the bandage pretty tight, it will be proper in such cases, as goon as 
the blood begins to flow, to slacken it a little. The ban ought 
to be applied at least an inch or an inch and a half from the place 
: where the puncture is intended tobe made. Thus the return of the 
blood through the vein is stopped, the vein swells, becomes conspi- 
cuous, and when opened, bleeds much more freely than would 
otherwise happen. ee 
Unskilful persons ought never to bleed with the lancet in a vein 
that lies over an artery or tendon, if they can avoid it. The former ~ 
may easily be known from its pulsation or beatings, and the latter 
from its feeling hard or tight under the finger. — 
It was formerly a rule, even among those who had the character 
of being regular practitioners, to bleed their patients in certain dis- 
eases till they fainted. [See Rush.] Surely a more’ ridiculous rule 
d not be proposed. One person will faint at the sight of a lan- 
cet, while another will lose almost the whole blood of his body be- 
fore he faints, Swooning depends more upon the state of the mind 
than of the body ; besides it may often be occasioned or prevented 
by the manner in which the operation is performed. 
All the apparatus essential for blood letting on the part of the pa- 
tient, isa bandage, two or more small pieces of linen for compresses, 
a basin to receive the blood, and a little clean water and a towel. 
The bandage ought to be about a yard in length, and near two 
inches broad, a common riband or garter being frequently employ- 
ed. The compressess are made by doubling a bit of linen rag about 
_ two inches square. On the part of the surgeon, it is necessary for _ 
_ him to have a good lancet of proper shape, for ifthe shoulders of the 
lancet be too broad it will not readily enter the vein, and when it 
/ does enter, it invariably makes a large opening which is not always 
desirable. If the lancet be too spear-pointed, an incautious opera- 
tor would often run the risk of transfixing the vein and wounding | 
the artery beneath. More, however depends on the mode of intro- _ 
ducing the lancet than on its shape. re? = 
During the operation of bleeding, the patient may lay down or 
“stand up, as circumstances may require. A sitting posture, howe- _ 
ver, is to be preferred, as the most convenient both for the surg 
and the patient. = 
_At the bend of the arm there are several veins in whicl 
ture may be made. The largest and most conspicuous is that in — 
which the operation is mostly performed ; but, it should not be for- 
gotten, that it is immediately under this that an artery runs which, 
without great care, might be easily transfixed. ee 
The vein beimg made choice of, the surgeon, if he use his right 
hand in the operation, he must take a firm hold of the patient’s arm 
with his left, and with the thumb or finger of the same hand he ; 
now press upon the vein just above where you intend the incisi 
so as to confine and prevent its rolling. The operator must 
take the lancet between the thumb and finger of his right ha 
with half the blade uncovered, and rest his hand upon the 
ng fingers, He will now push the point of the instrument 
‘rough the skin and teguments into the vein, then carry 
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