OPERATIONS. 343 



For general bleeding, the jugular or neck vein is most conve- 

 nient. 



The proper situation for bleeding is about four inches from 

 the part where the vein divides into two branches. Farriers 

 sometimes tie a cord round the neck in order to raise the vein ; 

 but this is unnecessary, and may do mischief. 



When the jugular vein is firmly pressed with the fingers of 

 the left hand, the blood is prevented from descending, and that 

 part of the vein which is above the fingers is considerably dis- 

 tended, and becomes very conspicuous. In this state it may be 

 easily opened with a lancet held in the right hand.* The vein 

 will continue to bleed so long as the pressure below is con- 

 tinued. 



Farriers bleed with a fleam, which, though apparently a 

 clumsy method of operating, is certainly safer than the lancet in 

 unskilful hands.f In topical bleeding, a vein is chosen as near 

 as possible to the affected part, or the vessels covering the part 

 are opened ; in the inflanunatlon of the eye, for example, it is 

 done by scarifying the inner surface of the eyelid, or by opening 

 a small vein, which is easily seen going from the inner corner of 

 the eye towards the nose.| 



* In bleeding witli a lancet, tlie off-side is most convenient. The head 

 should be elevated so as to put the vein in some measure on the stretch, the 

 flow of blood should then be stopped by the fingers of the left hand, and the 

 lancet being held in the right hand between the finger and thumb, the vein 

 should be opened by one incision, not two, as advised by some writers. It is 

 necessary that the lancet should be very sharp, particularly at the point, 

 otherwise the vein is apt to roll from the instrument. This, indeed, forms 

 the principal objection to its use, for the thickness of the skin and the coat 

 blunts the point after being used some time, and it then renders the operation 

 difficult.— Ed. 



t In bleeding with a fleam, the near side is most convenient. In skilful 

 hands, there is no occasion for a blood-stick, as the fleam may be struck with 

 the right hand if it is made broad and round at the back. It may also be 

 made much smaller and neater than that generally employed. — Ed. 



X The situations most favourable for local bleeding are the toe and co- 

 ronet in both hind and fore feet ; the inside of the arm and elbow joint in the 

 fin-e leg, and the inside of the thigh in the hind ; the angular or facial vein 

 and the palate. A fleam is a rather more convenient instrument in bleeding, 

 either from the arm or thigh, as the vein is somewhat apt to roll Avhen a 

 lancet is used. In other places a lancet is preferable,^ except for the foot, 

 where a sharp drawing knife is the most suitable and is less likely to occa- 

 sion festering. In thi's situation the artery itself should be opened, which 

 lies somewhat nearer the frog than the vein ; the blood is readily stopped 

 with a compress of tow. There is some difierence of opinion as to the benefits 

 of local bleeding, some denying its efficacy altogether. For my own part, I 

 am favourably inclined towards it if judiciously practised, and have,_in many 

 cases, witnessed its good eflects. It should, however, be borne in mind, that 

 it is of very little service to abstract a pound or two of blood locally if the 

 system is in a plethoric state, unless we relieve this plethora, for the inflamed 

 part will very soon be loaded with blood again. In such a case we should first 

 have recourse to general bleeding so as to reduce the system, and then having, 



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