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372 AMERICAN FARMER'S HORSE BOOK. 



blindfolded. l!^ow lay the fleam lengthwise the vein, holding 

 it in the left hand, and resting it exactly on the center ot 

 the vessel, and, with a hard piece of wood in the right hand, 

 strike the fleam with sufficient force to cut into the vein. 

 The piece of wood used for this purpose should be about a 

 foot long, and an inch or more in thickness. The blow given 

 with it must not be so violent as to cut through the inner 

 wall of the vein. Such an accident has sometimes occurred, 

 and is apt to result in inflammation of the parts, and the 

 formation of an abscess back of the vein, which will prove 

 exceedingly difficult to remove. The incision should be 

 large, so as to secure the abstraction of the requisite amount 

 of blood in the shortest time possible ; hence the advantages 

 of using a broad-shouldered fleam. After enough blood has 

 been drawn, remove the cord from the neck, and the blood 

 will cease to flow. !N"ow bring the edges of the cut together, 

 and put a quite small pin through the skin, so as to hold them 

 thus ; then tie some of the tail hairs, wet in the blood, under 

 the pin, drawing them tightly, and let the whole remain in 

 this condition for twenty-four hours. The pin should then 

 be removed, and the scar afterward wet with spittle occa- 

 sionally. 



The few remaining directions which may properly be laid 

 down concerning bleeding, we give in the language of Youatt : 



" When the bleeding is to be repeated, if more than three 

 or four hours have elapsed, it will be better to make a fresh 

 incision rather than to open the old wound. Few directions 

 are necessary for the use of the lancet. They who are com- 

 petent to operate with it will scarcely require any. If the 

 point is sufficiently sharp, the lancet can scarcely be too 

 broad-shouldered ; and an abscess lancet will generally make 

 a freer incision than that in common use. Whatever instru- 

 ment is adopted, too much care can not^be taken to have it 

 perfectly clean, and very sharp. It should be carefully wiped 

 and dried immediately after the operation, otherwise, in a 

 very short time, the edges will begin to be corroded." 



