{"product_id":"antique-snowden-brass-fleam-lancet-bleeder-medical-tool-blood-letter-civil-war","title":"Antique Snowden Brass Fleam Lancet Bleeder Medical Tool Blood Letter Civil War","description":"\u003cp\u003eAntique Snowden Brass Fleam Lancet Bleeder Medical Tool Blood Letter Civil War era  1860's  still works   used over a century ago   \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e, a compact vintage medical instrument once used for bloodletting. This collectible bleeding tool features a brass body with steel blade and lever components, and is marked “SNOWDEN” on the side. Approximately 3 inches long, it makes a distinctive addition to a collection of antique medical instruments, apothecary items, medical antiques, or historical curiosities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e Please review the listing photos for condition and details. Includes the fleam tool shown only.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003csection data-mw-section-id=\"1\" id=\"mwFA\" aria-labelledby=\"History\"\u003e\n\u003cp id=\"mwFQ\"\u003eThis name for handheld \u003ca rel=\"mw:WikiLink\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Venipuncture\" title=\"Venipuncture\" id=\"mwFg\"\u003evenipuncture\u003c\/a\u003e devices first appears in \u003ca rel=\"mw:WikiLink\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Anglo-Saxon\" title=\"Anglo-Saxon\" class=\"mw-redirect\" id=\"mwFw\"\u003eAnglo-Saxon\u003c\/a\u003e manuscripts around 1000.\u003csup about=\"#mwt4\" class=\"mw-ref reference\" id=\"cite_ref-1\" rel=\"dc:references\" typeof=\"mw:Extension\/ref\" data-mw=\"{\" name\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e The name is most likely derived from phlebotome: \u003ci id=\"mwHA\"\u003ephlebos\u003c\/i\u003e, Greek for \u003ca rel=\"mw:WikiLink\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Blood_vessel\" title=\"Blood vessel\" id=\"mwHQ\"\u003eblood vessel\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ci id=\"mwHg\"\u003etome\u003c\/i\u003e, meaning to cut.\u003csup about=\"#mwt5\" class=\"mw-ref reference\" id=\"cite_ref-2\" rel=\"dc:references\" typeof=\"mw:Extension\/ref\" data-mw=\"{\" name\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e These instruments are the progression from the early use of fish teeth, sharpened stones, and thorns used to penetrate blood vessels.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp id=\"mwIw\"\u003eThe earliest known examples are made of \u003ca rel=\"mw:WikiLink\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Bronze\" title=\"Bronze\" id=\"mwJA\"\u003ebronze\u003c\/a\u003e with a myrtle-leaf shape to the blade. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the German \u003ci id=\"mwJQ\"\u003eFliete\u003c\/i\u003e and French \u003ci id=\"mwJg\"\u003eflamettes\u003c\/i\u003e were developed. These devices with their right-angle blades are the earliest forms of what collectors now refer to as the fleam.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cfigure class=\"mw-default-size\" typeof=\"mw:File\/Thumb\" id=\"mwKw\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Flag_of_the_Royal_College_of_Surgeons_in_Ireland.svg\" class=\"mw-file-description\" id=\"mwLA\"\u003e\u003cimg resource=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Flag_of_the_Royal_College_of_Surgeons_in_Ireland.svg\" src=\"https:\/\/thumb.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/c\/cd\/Flag_of_the_Royal_College_of_Surgeons_in_Ireland.svg\/250px-Flag_of_the_Royal_College_of_Surgeons_in_Ireland.svg.png?utm_source=en.wikipedia.org\u0026amp;utm_campaign=parser\u0026amp;utm_content=thumbnail\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"\/\/thumb.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/thumb\/c\/cd\/Flag_of_the_Royal_College_of_Surgeons_in_Ireland.svg\/500px-Flag_of_the_Royal_College_of_Surgeons_in_Ireland.svg.png?utm_source=en.wikipedia.org\u0026amp;utm_campaign=parser\u0026amp;utm_content=thumbnail 2x\" data-file-width=\"600\" data-file-height=\"260\" data-file-type=\"drawing\" height=\"108\" width=\"250\" class=\"mw-file-element\" id=\"mwLQ\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003cfigcaption id=\"mwLg\"\u003eFleams (in gold) are depicted on the flag of the \u003ca rel=\"mw:WikiLink\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Royal_College_of_Surgeons_in_Ireland\" title=\"Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland\" id=\"mwLw\"\u003eRoyal College of Surgeons in Ireland\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/figcaption\u003e\n\u003c\/figure\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003csection data-mw-section-id=\"2\" id=\"mwMA\" aria-labelledby=\"Use\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mw-heading mw-heading2\"\u003e\n\u003ch2 id=\"Use\"\u003eUse\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"mw-editsection\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp id=\"mwMQ\"\u003eWhile there are reports of this type of instrument being used in humans, it is more likely that these were reserved for veterinary use, while the common thumb lancet was the instrument of choice for use in people. A survey of 100 fleams found thumb lancets in 6%.\u003csup about=\"#mwt10\" class=\"mw-ref reference\" id=\"cite_ref-baxby_4-0\" rel=\"dc:references\" typeof=\"mw:Extension\/ref\" data-mw=\"{\" name\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e These instruments with their triangular-shaped blades were designed to be placed over the vein (most commonly the jugular or saphenous) and struck with a fleam stick. This would ideally result in rapid penetration of the vein with minimal risk to the operator and minimal dissection of the subcutaneous tissues. The latter point was considered important in minimizing the formation of a dissecting hematoma.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp id=\"mwNg\"\u003eOnce the desired blood was drained from the patient, the operator would place a pin through the edges of the incision. A figure eight of tail hair or thread was then placed over the pin to retain closure.\u003csup about=\"#mwt11\" class=\"mw-ref reference\" id=\"cite_ref-Mayhew_5-0\" rel=\"dc:references\" typeof=\"mw:Extension\/ref\" data-mw=\"{\" name\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e Statements from Mayhew in his 1864 treatise indicate that the perceived benefits of these procedures were coming into great question in the latter half of the 19th century\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ehave a small collection of fleams   have others listed on other listings. 100926\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003cmeta name=\"keywords\" content=\"Antique Snowden Brass Fleam Lancet Bleeder Medical Tool Blood Letter Civil War era  1860's  still works   used over a century ago  \"\u003e\u003cmeta name=\"description\" content=\"Antique Snowden Brass Fleam Lancet Bleeder Medical Tool Blood Letter Civil War era  1860's  still works   used over a century ago  \"\u003e","brand":"cyclewarehouse.online","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50798445854882,"sku":"blood letter snowden 100926","price":279.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0335\/9824\/2861\/files\/7109b672-e1de-463a-8f40-73ba7c03185e.jpg?v=1793649357","url":"https:\/\/cyclewarehouse.online\/products\/antique-snowden-brass-fleam-lancet-bleeder-medical-tool-blood-letter-civil-war","provider":"cyclewarehouse.online","version":"1.0","type":"link"}