78 PHLEBOTOMY. 



less, and that it is held perpendicular to the surface and 

 parallel to the long axis of the vein. The most elevated 

 point of the vessel should be struck by the blade in such a 

 way that the skin, subcutaneous muscle and jugular wall 

 are penetrated parallel to the long axis of the vessel. Drive 

 the fleam blade into the vein by a short, sharp blow with a 

 small stick of heavy wood. The extension on the fleam 

 blade prevents its being driven too deeply. The size of 

 the blade to be used depends upon the thickness of the skin 

 and other tissues covering the vein. If the vein is opened, 

 dark red blood escapes from the wound in a large stream. 

 If the operation does not succeed at the first eiJort, one 

 should select an undamaged portion of the skin for a second 

 attempt so that the opening into the vein may be direct and 

 clean. When the vein is opened lay the instrument aside, 

 the compression of the vessel being continued in order to 

 prevent aspiration of air into it and also that the lips of the 

 skin wound shall not become displaced in relation to that 

 of the vein by which the escape of blood would be impeded 

 or stopped. The flow of blood may be favored by inducing 

 masticatory movements by the animal. The amount of 

 blood withdrawn varies between 3 and 8 liters, according 

 to size of the animal and the object to be attained. The 

 wound may be closed by an interrupted or a pinned suttire. 

 For the latter, relieve the compression on the vein and 

 grasp the lips of the skin wound between the finger and 

 thumb and stick the pin perpendicularly through the middle 

 of it a few mm. from its borders. Apply a noose of silk 

 ligature previously prepared over the pin and close and tie 

 the loop. In applying the pin and loop, take care not to 

 elevate the skin from the underlying part, which tends to 

 the production of a hematome. 



b. With the lancet the operation is preferably performed 

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

 trated in Fig. 3, and hold the lancet between the thumb and 



