PHLEBOTOMY. 505 



to terminate in the iaternal thoracic vein. It is, therefore, easily 

 recognized, and particularly so in milch cows, and it is, therefore, 

 unnecessary to use the ligature or any other means to swell its 

 dimensions, the pressure of the fingers being more than sufficient. 

 A fleam of medium dimension is preferable to the lancet in this 

 case. The animal is firmly held by the head, and to prevent his 

 kicking, is pulled forward by its tail passed between its hiad legs. 

 In opening the vein the operator places himself forward of the 

 shoulder, his back turned toward the head of the animal, holding 

 the fleam with the hand corresponding to the side of the animal 

 against which he is placed. The bleeding is stopped with a pin, 

 or, what is better, a bandage, to prevent the formation of a 

 thrombus. 



Phlebotomy on Small Animals. 



Bleeding is seldom performed on sheep. When it is indicated 

 it is performed on the facial, the jugular, the cephalic, or the ex- 

 ternal saphena. The vessel is opened with the lancet, the wool, 



Fia. 447.— Position o£ the Facial Vein in Sheep. 



if necessary, having been clipped off from the place of puncture, 

 and the wound is closed with a pin suture. 



In swine two sets of veins are ehgible for the operation, the 

 posterior auricular, as it runs at the internal face of the ears, 

 and the external saphena, where it passes along the tendo AchiUes. 

 The lancet is used upon both. The first stops bleeding without 

 help ; the second is closed with the pin suture. 



In doffs, the jugular is sometimes opened. This vein, from its 

 position, requires the appUcation of a string around the neck to 

 swell the vessel. The puncture is made with a small fleam or a 

 lancet and the wound closed with a pin. The external saphena 



