Silver etui engraved with a lion design and three lancets. Lancets are double edged surgical blades with a pointed end. These instruments were used to

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Silver etui engraved with a lion design and three lancets. Lancets are double edged surgical blades with a pointed end. These instruments were used to open patient's veins for 'bloodletting'. This was a common practice in medicine until the late nineteenth century and was believed to 'treat' a range of ailments by removing surplus bodily 'humours' (fluids within the body). These items date from around the year 1790.

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Size: 5461px × 3582px
Photo credit: © Science Photo Library / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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