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.

This Spring-Lancet bleeder used a single blade…(some box types used as many as 20!) These became very popular in the late 18th and 19th centuries. They came in every size and description. This specimen has a brass case and the mechanism and blades are steel.

The original pasteboard box comes with this item. The box exterior is an orange color and shows some wear and light soiling, otherwise this packaging is in good condition and quite rare to find at all. Small brass closure hook still works.  [jet] [ph:L]

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