The practice of bloodletting, or phlebotomy, dates back to antiquity. An early theory about bloodletting was that there were four main bodily fluids: blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile. An imbalance in these humors was postulated as the need for bloodletting, purging, vomiting, etc. Virtually every known medical condition at one time or another was treated by these methods. Bloodletting was used to treat everything from fever and madness to anemia and debility. The popular belief that George Washington was bled to death proves that even “nobility” was not spared.

The Scarificator or box bleeder used multiple blades…as many as 20! As long ago as the 17th century there were multi-bladed bleeders called scarificators. These became very popular in the late 18th and 19th centuries. Like spring lancets, they came in every size and description.

This specimen has a brass case and the mechanism and blades are steel. There is a depth adjuster for the blades on the top and the blades would be cocked by the lever on top. The release switch is on the side. This allowed the blades to swing around, making multiple cuts at once. This bleeder has 12 blades.

Very fine condition.  [jet] [ph:L]

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