Figures 26-124
Figure 29.—Lionel Wepfer, a 17th century traveler, described the Indian method of bloodletting as follows: “The patient is seated on a stone in the river, and one with a small bow shoots little arrows into the naked body of the patient, up and down, shooting them as fast as he can and not missing any part. But the arrows are guarded, so that they penetrate no farther than we commonly thrust our lancets; and if by chance they hit a vein which is full of wind, and the blood spurts out a little, they will leap and skip about, shewing many antic gestures, by way of rejoicing and triumph.” (From Lionel Wepfer, A New Voyage and Description of the Isthmus of America, London, 1699. Photo courtesy of NLM.)
Figure 31.—Instruments and technique of phlebotomy: Fig. 1 shows an arm about to be bled. A ligature has been applied to make the veins swell. The common veins bled—cephalic, basilic, and median—are illustrated. Fig. 2 shows several types of incisions. Fig. 3 is a fleam, Fig. 4 a spring lancet, and Fig. 5 a “French lancet.” (From Laurence Heister, A General System of Surgery, London, 1759. Photo courtesy of NLM.)
Figure 32.—Replica of a barber-surgeon’s signboard dated 1623. Top left corner shows a phlebotomy being performed. (NMHT 215690 [M-7343]; SI photo 44681.)
Figure 33.—Instruments for bleeding from the arm, 1708: A, a serviette to cover the patient’s clothing; B, a cloth ligature to place around the arm; C, a lancet case; D, a lancet; E and F, candles to give light for the operation; G, a baton or staff for the patient to hold; H, I, and K, basins for collecting blood; L and M, compresses; N, a bandage to be placed over the compress; P, eau de la Reine d’Hongrie that can be used instead of vinegar to revive the patient if he faints; Q, a glass of urine and water for the patient to drink when he revives; R, S, T, implements for washing the hands and the lancets after the operation. (From Pierre Dionis, Cours d’opérations de chirurgie demontrées au Jardin Royal, Paris, 1708. Photo courtesy of NLM.)
Figure 39.—Typical 19th-century brass spring lancet and case. The case is stamped “Traunichtessticht,” which translates, “Watch out, it stabs.” (NMHT 308730.10; SI photo 74-4088.)
Figure 44.—Silver spring lancet in case. Case is lined with white silk and rose plush and has a gold leaf border. (NMHT 321687.02; SI photo 76-7752.)
Figure 56.—Cupping instruments illustrated by Dionis, 1708: A, cups made of horn; B, lamp for exhausting air; C, fleam for making scarifications; D, horns with holes at the tip for mouth suction; E, balls of wax to close the holes in the horn cups; F, G, glass cups; H, candle to light the tow or the small candles; I, tow; K, small candles on a card which is placed over the scarifications and lit in order to exhaust the cup; L, lancet for making scarifications; M, scarifications; N, plaster to place on the wound. (From Pierre Dionis, Cours d’opérations de chirurgie demontrées au Jardin Royal, Paris, 1708. Photo courtesy of NLM.)
Figure 61.—An early illustration of the scarificator. Also pictured are a fleam for making scarifications, the pattern of scarifications, a metal cup, and a leech. (From Laurence Heister, A General System of Surgery, 7th edition, London, 1759. SI photo 73-4182.)
Figure 63.—Cupping and bleeding instruments, 1780. Illustrated are spring lancets, thumb lancets, cups, a square scarificator with pointed blades, and a lamp in which animal fat was burned. Figs. 16, 17, and 18 are unrelated to bloodletting. (From J. A. Brambilla, Instrumentarium Chirurgicum Viennense, Vienna, 1780. Photo courtesy of NLM.)
Figure 64.—Set of scarificator blades. Each row of blades may be inserted in place of those in need of cleaning or repair. (From the original in the Wellcome Museum by courtesy of the Trustees. Photo L. 2418.)
Figure 65.—An early illustration of the octagonal scarificator, 1801. This plate also includes one of the earliest illustrations of the syringe applied to cupping cups. (From Benjamin Bell, A System of Surgery, 7th edition, volume 3, Edinburgh, 1801. SI photo 73-5181.)
Figure 66.—An unusual octagonal scarificator made by Domenico Pica in 1793. The blade cover is attached by a hinge, and the turnkey on top raises and lowers the entire interior chassis in order to regulate depth of cut. (NMHT 320033.01; SI photo 76-7742.)
Figure 73.—R. J. Dodd’s patent cupping apparatus. Figs. 4 and 5 are the tubes for cupping the uterus. Fig. 3 is the flexible match scarifier. (From patent specifications, U.S. patent no. 3537. SI photo 73-5192.)
Figure 90.—Osborne’s instrument for inserting leeches into the rectum. (From J. Osborne, “Observations on Local Bloodletting,” Dublin Journal of Medical and Chemical Science, volume 3 (1833). Photo courtesy of NLM.)
Figure 97.—Sarlandière’s bdellometer. Fig. 13 and Fig. 14 are a teapot lamp and a glass for measuring the blood taken in cupping. All the other figures illustrate variations on the bdellometer. Fig. 19 and Fig. 20 are attachments for bleeding the internal membranes. (From Sarlandière, “Ventouse,” Dictionnaire des sciences médicales, volume 57, 1821. Photo courtesy of NLM.)
Figure 99.—An 18th-century cutler’s illustration of veterinary instruments. Shown are a spring lancet and a fleam. Knives and hooks were often added to the bloodletting blades in foldout fleams. (From Jean Jacques Perret, L’Art du Coutelier, Paris, 1772. Photo courtesy of the NLM.)
Figure 104.—Brass spring lancet that is set by pulling on the string and released by pushing upon the button. (NMHT 321697.07; SI photo 76-7750.)