Veterinary spring lancet
On application
This veterinary spring lancet was made in the 19th century. The oddly irregular curved shaped is made of brass. From the side protrudes a large blade with blade guard. From an iron slide catch the blade is triggered on the front of the instrument. It is released by a brass lever which is similar to that found in knob end lancets.
The treatment of animals mirrored the prevailing theories and practices of human medicine. Horses, in particular, were subjected to routine bleeding, cupping, and leeching. Manuals on veterinary medicine provided guidelines for bleeding various animals such as horses, cows, sheep, pigs, dogs, and cats. However, a notable distinction existed between bleeding a human and bleeding a horse or cow, primarily in the significant strength required to open a vein. The considerable force needed to penetrate the skin and the blood vessel’s outer layer made the procedure more challenging compared to human phlebotomy.
A similar veterinary spring lancet can be found in: Davis, Audrey and Appel, Toby. Bloodletting Instruments in the National Museum of History and Technology, 1979
