BLEEDING. 313 



some professional surgeons, to order a certain quantity of 

 blood to be taken away, without themselves attending to 

 the operation. Although we have pointed out the probable 

 quantity under particular diseases, yet it must be distinctly 

 understood that much depends upon the strength, size, and 

 condition of the animal at the time ; and although we 

 may suppose, from what we have seen effected by practice, 

 that the quantity which we have ordered will suffice, yet 

 in this we may be greatly mistaken. 'No regular surgeon, 

 however great his practice may have been, can predict 

 this to a certainty. We have already pointed out, at page 

 265 and the three which follow, the nature of the pulse 

 and its different indications. Before bleeding, we are sup- 

 posed to have ascertained the state of the pulse, and our 

 object is to reduce it as nearly as possible to its natural, or 

 healthy condition, or at least until a change has been 

 effected in its action ; therefore, the operator or his assistant 

 should keep his finger on the artery while the blood is 

 flowing, and, without strictly adhering to the quantity which 

 he had previously supposed, continue to take blood until a 

 marked alteration in the pulse has taken place. Supposing 

 it is for inflammation of the lungs, we must bleed until the 

 oppressed pulse becomes fuller and more distinct ; or if in 

 considerable fever, until the strong pulse beats softer, or the 

 horse manifests symptoms of faintness. 



The operation of bleeding is performed with a fleam, or 

 lancet. We would recommend the former to be used by 

 private individuals, or at least by such as have not had 

 sufficient practice with the lancet. A piece of hard wood, 

 loaded at one end with lead, called a blood-stick, is used for 

 striking the fleam into the vein. Care should be taken not 

 to strike too hard, as by doing so it is likely to wound the 

 opposite side of the coating of the vein, which may produce 



2 s 



