354

BLEEDING.

while another will lose almost the whole blood of his body beforehe faints. Swooning depends more upon the state of the mindthan of the body : besides it may often be occasioned or preventedby the manner in which the operation is performed.

Children are generally bled with leeches. This, though some-times necessary, is a very troublesome and uncertain practice. Itis impossible to know what quantity of blood is taken away byleeches ; besides, the bleeding is often very difficult to stop, andthe wounds are not easily healed. Would those who practisebleeding take a little more pains, and accustom themselves tobleed children, they would not find it such a difficult operation asthey imagine.

Certain vulgar prejudices with regard to bleeding still prevailamong the country people. They talk, for instance, of head-veinsheart-veins, breast-veins, <fec. and believe that bleeding in thesewill certainly cure all diseases of the parts whence they are sup-posed to come, without considering that all the blood-vessels arisefrom the heart, and return to it again ; for which reaso 1, unless intopical inflammations, it signifies very little from what part of thebody blood is taken. But this, though a foolish prejudice, is notnear so hurtful as the vulgar notion that the first bleeding will per-form wonders. This belief makes them often postpone the oper-ation when necessary, in order to reserve it for some more impor-tant occasion, and, when they think themselves in extreme danger,they fly to it for relief, whether it be proper or not. Bleeding atcertain stated periods or seasons has likewise bad effects.

It is a common notion that bleeding in the feet draws the hu-mours downwards, and consequently cures diseases of the headand other superior parts ; but we have already observed that, inall topical affections, the blood ought to be drawn as near the partas possible. When it is necessary, however, to bleed in the footor hand, as the veins are small, and the bleeding is apt to stoptoo soon, the part ought to be immersed in warm water, and keptthere till a sufficient quantity of blood be let.

All the apparatus essential for blood-letting, on the part of thepatient, is a bandage or fillet, two or more small pieces of foldedlinen for compresses, a bason to receive the blood, and a littleclean water and a towel. The bandage ought to be about a yardin length, and near two inches broad, a common riband or garterbeing frequently employed. The compresses are made by doub-ling a bit of linen rag about two inches square. On the part ofthe surgeon, it is necessary for him to have a good lancet, of prop-er shape ; for if the shoulders of the lancet be too broad, it willnot readily enter the vein, and when it does enter, it invariablymakes a large opening, which is not always desirable. If the lan-cet be too spear-pointed, an incautious operator would often run arisk of transfixing the vein, and wounding the artery beneath it.More, however, depends on the mode of introducing the lancetthan on its shape.

During the operation of bleeding, the patient may he down, sitdown, or stand up, each of which positions may be chosen, as cir-cumstances may require. If the patient be apt to faint from theloss of a small quantity of blood, and such fainting can answer no