Superb Antique Three Fan Bladed Medical Bloodletting Fleam with Beautiful Horn Covered Grip by Joseph Rodgers & Sons c1870

Here on offer is a superb antique three fan bladed bloodletting fleam with beautiful horn covered grip by Joseph Rodgers & Sons, circa 1870.

This medical instrument is the best example I have come across in all my years of collecting and is just an outstanding example.

It consists of three independent steel blade arms that swivel open and each one is fitted with a different size “fan shaped” blade, that are still razor sharp!

All the blade arms are stamped with the makers trade mark of a “Star and Cross” and two blade arms are stamped with JOSEPH RODGERS & SONS and one is stamped with No.6 NORFOLK ST. SHEFFIELD.

The blades and blade arms are in excellent condition, with just some age related greying to the finish and the largest fan blade has a small nick to one edge.

Now the grip is stunning, with smooth flat grip scales that are made from cut and polished sections of beautifully patterned natural horn. These are secured to the brass liners with six steel pins.

This is the first example I have come across fitted with horn, most are just brass or wood. Clearly this was an expensive instrument when it was made back in the late 19th century.

I actually also have four beautifully made fleam sticks that I have acquired over the last 50+ years, which are now listed on my web site. By adding one of those to this fleam, it would made an impressive and complete set.

Some information about Fleams or Phlebetomes (Bleeding Knives)

These multi-bladed medical bloodletting instruments are known as a fleams or phlebetomes, from the Greek words “Phlebos,” for blood vessel and “tome” meaning to cut.

They were used for bloodletting, a practice that dates back to antiquity but is rarely used today.

This kind of instrument was more often reserved for veterinary use, but the use of fleams on people was not unheard of.

This instrument would be used by placing it over the vein and then striking the fleam with a fleam stick, which was a short wooden club.

This would result in rapid penetration of the vein with minimal risk to the operator and minimal cutting of the patient’s tissue. After the incision was made and the desired amount of blood drained, a pin would be placed through the edges of the cut and then a figure eight of thread was sewn over the pin in order to keep the cut closed.

Bleeding a patient was almost never helpful and served only to make them weaker, yet it was commonly used from as far back as the ancient Egyptians and into the 19th century. One ancient system of thought that coincided with bloodletting was a theory of the four bodily humors: blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile. An imbalance of these “humors” let to the need for bloodletting.

Each of the three blade arms measure 3” (7.7cm) long and when fully open, the Fleam is 6.75” (17.1cm) long and weighs 100g.

Please see my pictures for the details of the condition, which complement this description.

Please see my TERMS OF BUSINESS regarding Deliver Charges and Insurance regarding additional insurance cover, should you require it, BEFORE the item is dispatched.

The responsibility lies with the customer to check with your Customs restrictions that this item can be imported into your country.

Code: 51771