BLEEDING. 177 



those of the eyes, from the excess of ammoniacal vapors 

 and unnatural darkness ; many of those of the feet, as 

 cracked heels, thrushes, grease — 'which in America is 

 known as scratches — from filth and neglect; and most of 

 those of the bowels, and the bowels and lungs combined, 

 from bad food, or good food badly administered. Still 

 diseases will and do arise from other causes, in the best 

 stables, and among the best-attended horses. And again, 

 they do arise, and when arising must be dealt with medi- 

 cally, owing to the causes above enumerated. 



It may be well in this place to describe briefly the most 

 approved modes of bleeding and administering medicine. 

 The former operation is performed in the jugular vein ; the 

 hair is smoothed, along the course of the vein, with the 

 moistened finger ; then, if the fleam be used — which, in our 

 opinion, ought to be discarded — -with the third and little 

 fingers of the left hand, which holds the fleam, pressure is 

 made upon the vein sufficient to bring it into full view ; the 

 fleam is to be placed on the vein, in the direct line of its 

 course, precisely over the centre of it, not exactly touching 

 it, but as near to it as possible without doing so. A smart 

 blow is then given to the back of the fleam with an instru- 

 ment called the blood-stick, which gives it force sufficient 

 to pierce the skin and open the vessel. A much neater 

 way, however, is to use a broad-bladed lancet. The vein 

 is secured and pressed sufficiently to bring it into full view 

 and cause it to swell, with the divided fingers of the left 

 hand, when the point of the lancet is sent in, without an 

 effort, so as to cut slightly upward and to open a clean and 

 sufficient aperture. By this method the danger of cutting 

 the neck foul without touching the vein, owing to the 

 horse starting at the moment the blow is given upon the 

 fleam, and the yet worse danger of dividing both sides of 

 the vein, are both avoided. When enough blood has been 

 8* 



