Antique Bloodletting Scarification Fleam
This 19th century scarification fleam was once used in the practice of bloodletting, a treatment that dates back thousands of years. At the time, doctors believed illness could be caused by “too much blood” or other imbalances in the body, and cutting the skin to release blood was thought to restore health. Fleams like this weren’t only used on people, they were also a common tool in veterinary care, especially for horses and livestock.
Today, it stands as a fascinating, and unsettling, reminder of how much faith was once placed in practices we now know to be harmful.
