PHLEBOTOMY 69 



tion to the latter. At this point clip or shave and disinfect 

 the skin. Compress the jugular with the finger-tips or 

 with the thumb as shown in Fig. 24. In fleshy-necked ani- 

 mals the course of the vein may be clearly made out by 

 causing its repeated distension and relaxation. In some 

 very heavy-necked horses, or in very restless animals, effi- 

 cient distension of the jugular is best obtained by cording 

 the neck as described under " Intravenous Injection." 



a. IVi/k the lancet the operation is perferably performed 

 on the right side of the neck. Compress the vein as illus- 

 trated in Fig. 24, and hold the lancet between the thumb 

 and index finger in such a manner that it can penetrate the 

 vein only, and then push it in quickly just in front of the 

 compressing thumb through the skin, subcutem and venous 

 wall as deep as the fingers holding the lancet will permit. 



Hold the blade perpendicular to the long axis of the vein, 

 and avoid directing the point dorsalward, which would 

 endanger the superior wall of the vessel or cause the lancet 

 to glide over the wall and not enter the vein. When the 

 lancet has entered the vein, extend the wound somewhat 

 toward the head by flexing the hand dorsally. In cattle it 

 is necessary to compress the vein by means of a cord tightly- 

 drawn around the neck, the operator taking the same posi- 

 tion as with the horse while an assistant holds the animal 

 by the horns or nose, or the vein may be still more effec- 

 tively distended by causing the patient to press against a 

 tightly stretched cord with the base of the neck as advised 

 for intravenous injection on page 67. Close the wound by 

 means of interrupted or pin suture. 



b. Phlebotomy with the trocar is performed in the same 

 manner as has been described for intravenous injection. So 

 long as the flow of blood continues, the compression of the 

 vein must not be intermitted. The phlebotomy trocar 

 should be about 5 mm. in diameter. 



