Posted 12 years ago
toyotaez
(1 item)
Got this picture from a friend to try to identify. There is an inscription (names) on the "case".
Trying to identify what it is and what it is used for.
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It's called a 'Fleam'.
The fleam is perhaps easiest-to-find bloodletting antique. These devices have one or more blades at right angles to the handle. The most common form is a brass case containing 2 or 3 steel blades, often stamped with a makers name (figure 8). The blades were usually of various sizes to offer a selection to the phlebotomist. Many of these fleams were likely used on animals but the ones with small blades no doubt were used at times on humans as well. Imagine the farming family that used their fleam for both purposes! Figure 9 shows several fleams in horn casing. Some of these came with a removable thumb lancet inserted into the horn case.
http://www.medicalantiques.com/medical/Scarifications_and_Bleeder_Medical_Antiques.htm