BLEEDING. 99 



his master conceives that the horse requires bleeding, and, 

 fortunately for them and their victim, no great harm follows 

 the deprivation. The animal will soon regain the blood 

 taken from him. Should the practice be pursued, I believe 

 its continuance will become necessary for preserving the 

 health. Bleeding is not to be recommended for reducing 

 flesh ; although it may emaciate for a time, yet, on its dis- 

 continuance, will the animal rapidly grow fat again. Indeed, 

 it often increases the disposition to fatten, as farmers well 

 know who bleed their calves. 



The Instruments used for Bleeding are the fleam and 

 the lancet. In jugular venesection, the fleam is the best ; 

 in regard to the convenience of the operator, the lancet is 

 to be preferred. But the lancet will not produce effect 

 equal to the fleam : the instantaneous impulsion the latter 

 receives from the bloodstick causes it to penetrate the skin 

 and vein in a manner we never can effect with the lancet. I 

 admit that the lancet is the more gentlemanly instrument ; 

 but for efficacy I prefer the fleam and bloodstick. Not that 

 I would by any means discountenance the lancet. In pri- 

 vate practice it is highly convenient, being so portable. 

 Indeed, in any other part but the neck, the fleam and 

 bloodstick prove awkward, and the lancet becomes absolutely 

 necessary. This is the case with the plate and femoral 

 veins. Also, in arteriotomy, the lancet is preferable. Let 

 which will be used, its blade should be a broad one, six-tenths 

 of an inch across its shoulders or broadest part. Greater 

 breadth than that will be found to make a wound of incon- 

 venient dimensions to close, and one consequently that will 

 be apt to gape and fester afterwards. Of lancets, I prefer 

 such as are spear-pointed. 



I cannot dismiss this part of my subject without noticing 

 an ingenious instrument for bleeding invented by Mr. 

 Weiss, of the Strand. Some few years back I drew his 

 attention to this matter, impressing on his mind the prac- 

 tical value of our clumsy combination of fleam and blood- 

 stick. At first, he did all in his power to imitate these by 

 machinery. However, it at length struck him he might 



