MODERN FAllEIER. 129 



For most purposes of bleeding, we would recom- 

 mend the spring-fleam, it being easily applied, and 

 much more certain in its effect. 



I Tying a rope, or any other ligature, about the 

 neck, previous to bleeding, is in some cases impro- 

 per, and in many dangerous. Rubbing the neck 

 jl briskly with a vv^isp of straw will be sufficient to fill 

 I the vein. If the horse can stand, a moderate pres- 

 ; sure with the finger will make the blood flow freely ; 

 but if the horse is lying on the ground, a ligature 

 will not be improper. 



The place where the vein is to be opened is of 

 some consequence, as, when the opening is made too 

 far from the head, where the vein lies deep among 

 ' the muscles, both the vein is not so easily opened, 

 [and the wound is not so readily healed. The most 

 ■iproper place for opening the jugular vein is about 

 Ian inch below the joining of the small branches that 

 Icome from the lower jaw. This is generally about 

 ,|a hand-breadth from the head ; but it may be easily 

 fiseen by the swelling of the vein when pressure is 

 llmade on its trunk. 



im Before opening the vein, it is usual to wet the 

 ylhairs that lie above it, and to stroke them in the 

 lelElirection of the intended orifice. This is a good 

 Practice, as the instrument thus passes through the 

 ■skin more readily, not having to overcome the re- 

 ir- istance of the hair. In mentioning the direction of 

 he orifice, it is worth while to remark, that this 

 hould neither be longitudinal nor directly across 

 the vein, but rather oblique ; as the flow of blood 

 rom an oblique orifice is most easily stopped. 



When the vein is opened, it is highly proper in 

 11 cases to catch the blood in some convenient ves- 

 jel. It is a very absurd practice, although it is 

 ommonly adopted, to allow the blood to flow at 

 andom on the ground or on a dunghill, by which 

 neans no precise estimate can be made of the quan- 

 ity of blood taken away. This may either be so 



bi 



to! 



