BLEEDING BY THE JUGULAR VEIN. 597 



force the blood from the inner to the outer set ; and an in- 

 creased quantity may be obtained. The plate vein, or ex- 

 ternal thoracic,' is often opened, as it emerges from behind 

 the arm, and is pinned up without any difficulty. 



BLEEDING BY THE JUGULAR VEIN. 



The situation of this important vessel is well known, but 

 its internal connexions are not so famihar, though such 

 knowledge is essential to the uniform safety of the opera- 

 tion. The horse has only external jugular veins, a right 

 and a left one : as each emerges from the chest, it is found 

 deep-seated, and approaching the trachea ; it then passes 

 forwards in company with the external carotid artery : to- 

 wards the middle of the neck it becomes more superficial, 

 and is now distinctly seen progressing rather above and without 

 the carotid artery and trachea, or windpipe. The carotid, 

 therefore, in the future course of the jugular, is situated a 

 little below and more deep-seated than the vein. The jugu- 

 lar is also separated from the carotid by a slight muscular 

 band, derived from the levator humeri. Its further track 

 is marked in the hollow formed by the inferior edge of the 

 levator humeri, where it is covered by the panniculus car- 

 nosus and integuments only ; when, having nearly reached 

 the jaw, it makes its well-known division into two portions. 

 Bleeding by the jugular is usually practised with a lancet, 

 or with a fleam. The proper spot for the puncture may be 

 found any where between two inches and six from the divi- 

 sion of the vein : this latitude is here mentioned, because it 

 is prudent to avoid puncturing directly over a former bleed- 

 ing place, known by the scar and enlargement : it should 

 also be avoided where a Uttle knot in the course of the 

 vein will sometimes denote the existence of one of the 

 venous valves. But in all ordinary cases, where these hin- 

 derances do not appear, operate at two or three inches from 

 the division of the vein ; which will be sufficiently evident 

 when it is pressed on below the place punctured. Avoid 

 operating low down in the neck, as there the vessel is 

 deeper seated, and near to important parts. 



First moisten the hair and smooth it down ; then, steady- 

 ing and enlarging the vessel with one hand, with the other 

 plunge the point of the lancet into the integuments, so as 



