All About Pocket Knives

This is a set of old veterinary fleams for bleeding animals... primarily horses. Nice horn case. The fleams are not on springs but work more like a friction folder. s-k

I lived on the shores of Lake Michigan in Wisconsin.

We had a lot of frames around there with horses, cows, and pigs. ect.

I even dated one farm girl one time but she smelled like the barn.
One time was enought for me.

With all that said can you tell me why would any one want to bleed a horse? I under stand bleeding a cow and hanging it to drain the blood out to eat it after butchering it. Can you explain how that tool worked to ?

These were common in the early to mid 1800s. The point of the fleam was placed on a major blood vessel and the back of the blade struck with a stick etc. The purpose was to treat infections and other illnesses by bleeding the animal. The controlled loss of 'bad' blood and and the subsequent production of new blood was thought to cure the condition. Not a very scientifically sound practice by today's standards. s-k

they bled humans as well!

Yep, they bled humans, even in barber shops, and not by accident.

I had a spring loaded 2 blade,double triggers, with an engraved sterling case. I wonder if wife number 2 still has it ?

Fran

Yep, they bled humans, even in barber shops, and not by accident.

Yup that's why the strips on the barber shop pole light was all about.

See I do have a good memory its just that I have trouble with retrieving it some times.. . LOL

Thanks for the help you all.

The idea behind bleeding horses, cows, and even dogs and cats was really similar to that behind treating humans. The process was really loosing favor in the mid- to third quarter of the 19th century. The exception was the treatment of laminitis. The fleam was probably only used in animals. The instrument used in humans would be the thumb lancet. You can see all of the wild varieties of these things on my website if you would like. The address is http://www.alllancets.com

hey, welcome tom. great info and cool site. lookin forward to more from you.

Kinda the same process as an EX-wife does to your paycheck?

Will be fun learning some new stuff from a group of knife lovers. I often have questions about makers marks and research into cutlery firms.

Tom

Warm to the site Tom. Feel free to jump right in with any questions. s-k

Does anyone have any information on a cutler named John Cam? His mark is on the inset photograph. The IHS and the cross seems to indicate that he was a member of the Jesuit order. The piece it comes from is probably 1700-1750 and English in origin.

Goins' lists a James Cam, circa 1816-1833, Sheffield England.
But that is all he says about him. Perhaps a source that specializes in Sheffield cutlers may be helpful, or perhaps S-K knows.

Dale

PS- Welcome to AAPK.

I just watched "The Tudors," a Showtime series about Henry VIII. In one scene, a doctor bled Henry by driving one of these tools into his back with a mallet. Looked painful.

I had no idea what they were called before this thread. Thanks!