BLEEDING. 21 



should be abstracted, cannot be previously deter- 

 mined; but the old rule was that the finger of the 

 operator being kept on the artery, the blood should 

 be permitted to flow until the pulse became materially 

 softer, or fluttered; but the better and the newer 

 practice seems to be to take only such a quantity as 

 causes the horse to sigh, yawn, become quiet, or ex- 

 hibit an altered aspect and disposition. These are 

 the general rules in the treatment of inflammation — 

 to bleed promptly — until the system is affected, or 

 until the excited character displayed by the animal 

 seems changed. 



Of equal importance with it is the quickness with 

 which the blood is abstracted. The loss of one quart, 

 poured out in a full stream, from a large orifice, will 

 affect the horse more than double the quantity suf- 

 fered to escape in small current, from an insufficient 

 opening. The fleam or the lancet should, therefore, 

 be sufficiently broad-shouldered. 



The lancet is the most portable instrument; and, 

 after a little practice, may be even more depended 

 upon than the fleam. 



When a sufficient quantity has been taken, and 

 before the blood is sponged away from the neck, the 

 edges of the orifice should be brought together. This 

 should be done without lifting the skin more than is 

 necessary, and by means of a rough or an angular- 

 pointed pin, passed through the integuments, around 

 which a small quantity of tow is twisted. After this 

 the horse's head should be tied up, and on no account 

 ought it to be turned out to grass. Care should be 

 taken not to pin any hair in with the wound, for 



