172 BLEEDING. 



especial attention should be paid to the economising of vital 

 force ; and this can only be done by giving it every aid and 

 support within our power. "What shall we say then to 

 directions such as the following ? " Under ordinary circum- 

 stances," says Mr. Percival, "the abstraction of a gallon of 

 blood is reckoned a moderate bleeding. Under pressing disease 

 I occasionally draw three gallons : I have heard of four being 

 taken."* We have no hesitation in saying that directions 

 more atrociously destructive to animal life could not well be 

 exceeded, unless they were such as to encompass the immediate 

 death of the animal. We used at one time to bleed frequently ; 

 but never during the most sanguinary days did we venture to 

 abstract from any poor animal three gallons of the vital fluid 

 at one time ! 



* PercivaVs Sijppo;patliology. Vol. 1. Second edition, page 95. 



